Does travel insurance cover natural disasters?
- Cancellation cover up to £10,000
- Cover for pre-existing medical conditions
- Call us if you get stuck
Key things to know about how travel insurance covers natural disasters
- Buy as soon as you book - You are only covered for events that were "unforeseen" when you bought the policy; once a disaster is in the news, it is too late to get cover.
- Provider first: Insurers only pay for costs you can’t recover elsewhere; always contact your airline or tour operator for refunds or rebooking first.
- Evidence is key: You must keep all receipts and obtain written reports from your carrier confirming the cause of the delay to support your claim.
- Follow advice: Ignoring FCDO warnings or local evacuation orders will void your policy; always stay within government-approved zones.
Does travel insurance cover natural disasters?
Most travel insurance policies do provide cover for natural disasters. However, all cover for natural disasters isn’t created equal. The amount of cover, or even if you are covered, depends mainly on the type of policy you have and whether the natural disaster was unforeseen.
This means that you booked your holiday and travel insurance before the natural disaster was a ‘known’ event, e.g., announced on the news.
For example, let’s say you were travelling to Jamaica before Hurricane Melissa was announced to the world in 2025. No one was aware of the impending hurricane, so your cover would be valid. Once the FCDO advised UK citizens not to travel to Jamaica because of the hurricane, you will then be entitled to cover for any cancellations because you bought your travel insurance before the hurricane was a ‘known event’.
It’s a similar tale if you were in Jamaica before the hurricane hit, and at the time of booking your ticket, no one had any idea of what was going to happen. Once the hurricane had been officially announced, you’d be entitled to cover for any related medical emergencies, emergency accommodation, repatriation, and evacuation from Jamaica.
In instances where your policy does cover natural disasters, such as a wildfire, you may be covered for the following:
- Emergency care: Any necessary hospital treatment if you are injured or become ill.
- Belongings: Most policies include cover for belongings damaged or destroyed during a fire or other natural disaster.
- Relocation: In the event of a wildfire or serious disaster, there may be the need to evacuate and relocate to temporary accommodation.
- Travel disruption: Travel costs that cannot be recovered may also be covered under your policy.
When natural disasters are covered and when they aren’t
There are multiple factors that can affect whether a natural disaster is covered by your policy or not. The following table is a break down of what you can expect to be covered:
| Feature | Generally Covered | Generally NOT Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | The natural disaster was unforeseen and became a "known event" after you purchased your trip and travel insurance policy. | You knew about a "known event" in a region and still decided to purchase your holiday and book travel insurance for it. Choosing to return home early of your own accord may not always be covered. |
| Government Advice | You follow FCDO advice to avoid travelling to the affected region or evacuate. | You choose to travel against FCDO advice to "all but essential" or "all" travel. |
| Refund Source | Non-refundable costs such as pre-paid excursions or private rentals. | Refundable costs (e.g. airline tickets or package holiday refunds). Flights cancelled by airlines should generally be refunded by the airline or tour operator, not the insurer. |
| Trip Status | Cancellation before departure or "curtailment" (cutting the trip short). | Choosing not to go because you are "worried," even if flights and hotels are still running. |
What is a natural disaster?
When it comes to travel insurance, a natural disaster is classed as the following:
An extreme geological or meteorological event that is both unexpected and uncontrollable. They cause severe damage to the local and sometimes national infrastructure, threatening the safety of anyone in the affected region. Insurers also refer to these events as "Force Majeure" as no one saw it coming (at the time of purchasing your holiday and your travel insurance).
Examples of natural disasters include:
- Earthquakes
- Hurricanes
- Floods
- Wildfires
- Tsunamis
- Volcanic eruptions
- Blizzards
It’s important to know that instances of bad weather, such as torrential rain or a blustery day is not classed as a natural disaster.
How extreme weather affects travel insurance claims
Extreme weather – such as heavy snow or hurricane storms – can severely disrupt your travel plans, this can trigger specific policy protections. While airlines are responsible for your care in many extreme weather disruption scenarios, travel insurance steps in to cover the "gaps".
Key benefits typically include:
- Travel disruption cover - This provides you with a fixed amount (e.g., £25–£50) for every 12 hours you are delayed to help you purchase any essential items, such as food and toiletries. It also covers you if you need additional transport or alternative accommodation if severe weather prevents you from reaching the airport or port on time (for example, a flooded road or snow-blocked railway).
Standard policies usually have a waiting period of 12 or 24 hours before a claim is valid. So if you believe you have a good case for a claim, it’s a good idea to do it as soon as possible.
Also, policy limits usually apply. They will often be capped between £500 and £1,000—so always check your "Travel Disruption" add-ons.
What to do if a natural disaster disrupts your trip
Your first priority is your safety and the safety of anyone else in your group.
Do what you can to get yourself/yourselves out of immediate danger. Once you’ve successfully done that, you can follow these steps to make a claim on your travel insurance.
1. Contact Your Travel Providers
Before calling your insurer, you must contact:
- Your airline
- Tour operator
- Accommodation provider
Under UK law and ATOL/ABTA regulations, these companies are normally responsible for rebooking you or providing refunds if they cancel any part of your trip.
Most insurers will generally consider a claim for "out-of-pocket" expenses that you can’t get from these companies. If you are stranded, you can ask your airline for food vouchers and overnight accommodation, as they have a "duty of care" to you.
2. Document Everything
To secure a successful claim, you need evidence of the disruption; this includes:
- Official reports – If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you’ll need a written report, or email, from the carrier stating the exact reason (e.g., "Airspace closed due to heavy snow").
- Receipts - Keep every single receipt for emergency expenses, including meals, essential toiletries, or alternative transport.
- Evidence of the event – If your accommodation becomes unsafe, take photos or videos of the damage and save local news reports or government alerts as supporting proof.
3. Notify Your Insurer
Contact your insurer as soon as it is safe to do so. They can provide helpful and immediate guidance on what they will cover – such as the cost of a higher-tier hotel if yours is flooded—and whether you should proceed with booking your own way home or wait for government-led repatriation.
What to do if you’re stranded, evacuated, or your accommodation becomes uninhabitable
If a natural disaster strikes while you are abroad, travel insurance can provide you with a critical safety net through emergency assistance services.
In the event of a disaster such as a wildfire, many policies include 24-hour helplines that help to coordinate evacuation support so that you can get to a safer area where either evacuation or repatriation is possible. This cover will aid you in temporary relocation to avoid danger, and in travel disruption cover, i.e. costs you cannot recover.
It’s important to know that your policy will have a limit on how much you can claim for additional costs, or alternative accommodation. This can be in the form of a day rate e.g. £150/day or a total e.g. £1,500. These funds are not designed for you to upgrade your accommodation, they are designed for you to get a similar standard of accommodation if needed, during a natural disaster. It will also only apply to costs you cannot recover from your travel company or airline.
In any natural disaster scenario, it’s crucial that you follow the guidance of the local authorities and the FCDO.
If you ignore an official evacuation order or travel into a restricted zone against government advice, you risk voiding your policy. It can be helpful to keep a digital record of official alerts and any written confirmation from your accommodation stating the property is unusable to support your future claim.
How to choose travel insurance for natural disasters
When it comes to natural disasters, buying your travel insurance the moment you book your trip is crucial.
This is because travel insurance policies only cover "unforeseen" events. So, for example, let’s say you’ve booked a trip to Japan, and you wait to purchase your travel insurance. While you’re waiting, an earthquake hits the region of Japan you’re planning to visit, and all flights to the country are cancelled. You will not be reimbursed or have any natural disaster cover, as the earthquake is now a known event.
When comparing policies, look out for those that comprehensive, as they tend to have much better cover for natural disasters than the basic policies.
For even more peace of mind, you can explore add-ons such as "Enhanced Travel Disruption" or "Natural Catastrophe". These cover you if the FCDO changes its advice or if volcanic ash grounds flights, for example. Always check the policy wording for "force majeure" clauses to ensure your specific destination's risks—like hurricane season—are included.
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