Florida is now undergoing a massive cleanup after Hurricane Milton and Helene hit the state in recent weeks.

We want to extend our sympathy and concern for all snowbirds whose property was damaged or even destroyed by these storms.   

Tips for snowbirds heading to Florida soon

Many snowbirds have not begun their journey to their winter destinations and we have the following tips for those heading for Florida in the near future:

• When to Go: If you are planning to head to Florida soon, consider holding off until the state has begun to recover. There are shortages of fuel, food and supplies in many areas of Florida, and these areas don’t need more people right now. 

• Property Owners: If you own a home in Florida that is located in or around one of the affected areas, you will likely have had someone check to ensure it is structurally safe and habitable - and whether it has power yet. Contact your insurance company immediately if you have not already done so.

• Rentals: If you rent in Florida, contact the property manager/owner to see if the rental is still available and ask about damage to the building and the amenities. 

• Driving Down: Some of the major routes to Florida from Canada were badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, as it extended into Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. Interstate 26 and Interstate 40 – both routes that snowbirds could use in their drives south - were badly damaged and won’t be fully repaired for some time. Portions of these highways are closed. 
  
  Snowbirds are advised to check highway updates and route maps to ensure their normal route is open.

• Hotels Along the Way: Another problem for snowbirds heading to Florida soon is that most of the hotels along the routes in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida are filled with people who were evacuated or whose homes were damaged, so there may be limited to no vacancy in hotels along the way to spend the nights on your drive down.
• Travel Advisories: Currently, the Canadian government is advising travellers to avoid all non-essential travel to Florida due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton. This could soon be updated, but you can check here: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states.