Proper planning prevents poor performance. This mantra defines travel, but sometimes even the best-laid plans are thrown into disarray. If a natural disaster strikes while you’re on a trip, or right beforehand, you may be entirely out of luck – unless you have travel insurance. Insuring your trip can in many cases provide a lifeline to minimize not only risk but lost money (or lost luggage, which travel insurance can also cover). Whether for future reference or in the case that you’re facing a crisis abroad right now, here’s the lowdown on travel insurance and natural disasters. Matador spoke with World Nomads and broke down the company’s Epic Plan policy and Cancel for Any Reason add-on into specific circumstances as an example for this article. No matter which provider you choose, the key takeaway is this: protect yourself now and prevent a bad situation from getting worse.
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Natural distasters and travel insurance: what’s covered and when
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With the right travel insurance policy, coverage for natural disasters and terrorism applies both before and during a trip, with key benefits that can assist travelers at multiple stages of their journey. If a traveler’s home residence or their booked accommodation becomes uninhabitable due to a natural disaster, trip cancellation and interruption coverage may apply. The same protection can come into play if a mandatory evacuation order prevents travel to or from the departure city, destination, or return location.
Evacuation coverage — one of the most critical components during a crisis — can cover transportation to get travelers out of harm’s way. Depending on the circumstances, that may mean transportation back to the US or to the nearest place of safety.
“There are numerous ways World Nomads can assist plan holders if a natural disaster strikes,” a World Nomads spokesperson told Matador. “These include trip cancellation and interruption if your home or destination accommodation is made uninhabitable, trip delay coverage if a mandatory evacuation order prevents travel, and evacuation coverage if you are in imminent physical danger due to a natural disaster event that causes widespread damage.”
These same types of coverage can also apply to incidents of terrorism or political unrest. For example, if a terrorist incident occurs in your departure city or a city on your itinerary within 30 days of departure, trip cancellation and interruption benefits may apply. In addition, travelers can purchase a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade, which offers greater flexibility for those who are uneasy about potential threats but whose trips have not yet been directly affected.
“If an event hasn’t occurred yet, but you are scared it might, CFAR would cover you canceling the trip and getting up to 75% reimbursed for those non-refundable, pre-paid expenses,” the World Nomads spokesperson said. “You must have purchased the Epic Plan to get 75% reimbursed; the Explorer Plan reimburses at 50%. Terms and conditions apply to when you can add CFAR to your travel insurance plan. It’s also not available to NY residents.”
Where top travel insurance providers offer similar, coverage and where their policies diverge
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World Nomads’ coverage closely mirrors that of other major travel-insurance providers, offering the standard protections travelers expect — trip cancellation and interruption, trip-delay reimbursement, and emergency medical or evacuation benefits. Providers like Allianz Travel, AIG Travel Guard, and Seven Corners include similar coverage for events such as natural disasters and terrorism.
Where World Nomads stands out is in how it handles timing and adventure-travel risk. Like most insurers, it won’t cover “known events” — disasters or crises already reported or named when a policy is purchased — but it emphasizes this restriction more clearly. Its Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) add-on reimburses up to 75% of trip costs, comparable to premium options from competitors. However, World Nomads differentiates itself with broader coverage for outdoor and high-risk sports, while generalist insurers like Allianz tend to focus more on multi-trip or business-travel features.
How to get help when you’re already abroad
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Once travelers are already abroad, the best course of action is to contact their policy holder to file a claim and get information on next steps. In the case of a World Nomads policy, the company’s 24/7 Emergency Assistance team is available to help in the event of a terrorism incident or natural disaster. This can include coordinating medical evacuation, helping locate safe transportation, and providing logistical and emotional support during a crisis.
“While on a trip, if you are in imminent physical danger due to a terrorism event that causes widespread damage, transportation may be covered to get you out of harm’s way,” the spokesperson said. “This could mean transportation back to the US or to the nearest place of safety.”
Medical coverage also applies in cases of injury related to terrorism, including hospitalization, prescription medications, and other necessary care — provided travelers retain all receipts and documentation when filing a claim.
Perhaps most importantly, what isn’t covered?
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Travel insurance is designed to protect against unexpected events — not those already underway. That distinction is critical.
“A natural disaster may not be covered under your World Nomads plan if you bought a plan after the event occurred,” the World Nomads spokesperson said. “You can’t buy a travel insurance plan once the hurricane is already headed toward your hotel, or the flood already wiped out your home residence. Travel insurance is meant to protect you against unexpected expenses. Once an event is ‘known’ — meaning the storm has been named or reported on the news — travel insurance coverage may not apply.”
The same principle applies to terrorism or civil unrest. If a traveler purchases coverage after an event has occurred, that incident will not be covered. Similar to a natural disaster, travel insurance may not cover you if you bought the plan after the terrorism or civil unrest event occurred. Additionally, most major travel insurance providers don’t cover losses resulting from war or invasion, whether war is formally declared or not. While the distinction between a terrorist attack and an invasion may be nuanced, the key is to check the plan docs before filing a claim.
“It’s imperative that customers read their policy documents to understand coverage as it relates to natural disasters,” the World Nomads spokesperson said. “Important terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all coverages.”
What else do travelers need to know?
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Understanding timing — when coverage starts, when events become “known,” and when it’s too late to buy a policy — is one of the most essential factors in getting protection that works. World Nomads recommends purchasing travel insurance as soon as a trip is booked. That ensures coverage for qualifying events that occur between the purchase date and departure. It also allows travelers to add optional benefits like CFAR, which must typically be purchased within a specific time frame after the initial trip deposit.
For trips already in progress, knowing how to contact World Nomads’ emergency assistance team is key. Travelers should save both the emergency contact number and their policy number in multiple places — on their phone, in a wallet, and in their email inbox — to ensure quick access during a crisis.
When filing a claim, detailed documentation helps expedite reimbursement. This includes receipts, medical reports, photographs, police statements, or written confirmation from local authorities when applicable. It’s also important to note that much of this information relates to US residents traveling domestically or internationally, not residents of other countries even if they are traveling within the US. Even for Americans, certain benefits may vary by state. CFAR coverage is not available to New York residents due to state insurance regulations, for example.
Beyond the fine print, the larger takeaway is the importance of proactive protection. Natural disasters, terrorism, and political unrest can upend travel plans without warning, and while no policy can eliminate those risks, comprehensive coverage can significantly reduce their impact.
“The coverages outlined above apply both before and during the trip,” the World Nomads spokesperson said. “Having travel insurance in place before an event occurs is the best way to safeguard yourself against financial loss and ensure access to assistance when you need it most.”
