It’s been a couple of weeks since Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida as a category 4 hurricane. The storm continued across central Florida before exiting the east coast of the state near Daytona Beach. Then it reenergized before making landfall again, this time in the Carolinas. It recorded as one of the worst storms to hit Florida. Many areas in its path were totally devastated. Our hearts are with all those impacted by Hurricane Ian. And a big thank you to the relief workers, first responders, and those that came to help.
Hurricane Ian with Heavy Winds and Crashing Rain
When Hurricane Ian passed through the Orlando area, it was a Category 1 hurricane. It brought a lot of destruction to many areas in Central Florida. Heavy winds and crashing rain had the palm trees definitely swaying. You could hear the wind howling as the storm slowly roared through the area.
Orlando and Daytona Beach In Direct Path of Hurricane Ian
Stay for Vacay has three vacation rental homes and the two of them are in Florida. (The third one is in the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania.) Both Florida homes were in the direct path of Hurricane Ian as one is located in Orlando and the other in Daytona Beach. Luckily, both properties got away with only minor cuts and bruises.
Margaritaville Resort and Cottages Safe Haven in Storm
Offering hotel rooms and vacation rental cottages, Margaritaville Resort Orlando was a safe haven for families searching for a place inland to ride out the storm. The Resort went from expecting the normal number of vacationing guests checking in to about 100 new check-ins in just one day. Families loaded up the kids, grandparents and the family dogs and headed inland from the coast to ride out the storm. The cottages proved to be valuable as they are fully equipped homes and offered space for the whole gang to hunker down safely together. Also, there are numerous restaurants and shopping both on the resort and within walking distance, making it easier for the guests to get the essentials needed. And as an added bonus, there were even activities at the hotel to keep guests entertained.
That palm tree made it through the storm!
The resort survived with only a couple of trees down and a few of the cottages briefly lost power. Stay For Vacay’s vacation rental, Seas Life Cottage, is one of the cottages located on the Margaritaville Resort Orlando complex. We are happy to report that it also faired very well in the storm. It just had a downspout knocked off from the gutters, but that was repaired within three days. The palm tree in front of the cottage was reinforced as part of the pre-storm preparedness. If you saw previous pictures of the front of the cottage, you will recall that palm tree was always a little crooked…it’s a part of its charm. These supports were ripped off during the storm. But the palm tree held its own and stayed up!
The Power of Daytona Beach
Since Daytona Beach is on the coast, it did suffer damage before the storm headed off into the Atlantic. After the storm hit Daytona Beach, some of the bridges connecting the mainland to the beachside were closed due to possible damage. A curfew was imposed to allow emergency workers the ability to provide necessary services. Damaged seawalls and beach erosion were two issues on the shore while there was heavy flooding inland. Power outages were throughout the area.
Fortunately, Beachy For Shore, our condo in the beachfront resort, Daytona Beach Resort and Conference Center, did not have any damage from the hurricane. We were hopeful since the unit is on the 12th floor. There were reports of water damage in upper floor units of some condo buildings due to the high winds forcing rain under windows, sliding glass doors and air conditioners that were blown into the units by the hurricane force winds! The resort amenities including the indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, hot tubs, fitness center and brand-new arcade were closed temporarily to allow for safety inspections before reopening. While many homes and businesses in the area were without electricity, our condo building only lost power for about 15 minutes throughout the storm.
Vacation Time Maybe Hurricane Season
Unfortunately, we know Hurricane Ian will not be the last hurricane. There will be other hurricanes in the future…just hopefully not in the near future. If you are traveling in Florida or most of the East Coast during June 1st through November 30th, you will be traveling during the Atlantic hurricane season. Whether hurricanes are new to you, you’re staying in a house or area that you’re not familiar or maybe even evacuating to a safer area, you might find yourself in the situation of staying at a short-term rental during a hurricane.
If you are traveling in Florida or most of the East Coast during June 1st through November 30th, you will be traveling during the Atlantic hurricane season.
Tips For Staying at a Vacation Rental During a Hurricane
We have some lessons learned about what you can do if you are staying in an Airbnb or VRBO during a hurricane. If you find yourself in this situation:
- Plan before you go. Check the National Hurricane Center for updates.
- Get travel insurance. Cancellation rules are different depending on how you booked. You may not be able to get a refund without it.
- Let family and friends know where you are staying.
- Stay in contact with the host as they may have safety precautions or updates for you.
- Even if you’re from an area prone for hurricanes, heed the local advisories. Every hurricane is different and there will be local information that is useful for the area.
- Follow local government and local news stations for updates. Find their social media accounts in case you lose power or cable service.
- Stock up on essentials including water, food, flashlights and batteries.
- Become familiar with all exits of the rental home and identify a safe place to stay in the home, if necessary.
Also check out the hurricane preparedness resources available from the federal government, Red Cross and Florida Division of Emergency Management. By being prepared, you can have a safe vacation, even during hurricane season.
The Calm After the Storm
Considering the magnitude of the hurricane, Stay For Vacay is grateful that our properties escaped damage in Hurricane Ian. Like many storms, it was a beautiful sunny day after Hurricane Ian moved out of the area. A rainbow was over the Atlantic as the storm moved off the coast of Daytona Beach. It’s a reminder of hope and good times ahead. Stay safe and be well.
