As hurricane season nears, Volusia's tourism industry focuses on preparation
DAYTONA BEACH — After weathering a catastrophic economic downturn tied to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 to rebound with record-setting numbers this past summer, Volusia County’s tourism industry now prepares for the possibility of a potentially active hurricane season.
“A hurricane can cause major, major issues,” said Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County. “There’s many things that could happen. Preparation is No. 1, for the safety of our guests and our employees.”
Another above-average hurricane season is in the forecast for 2022, according to scientists at Colorado State University. They predict at least 19 named storms and nine hurricanes — four of which will be Category 3 or higher — for the season that officially started on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.
CSU, AccuWeather forecasters agree: Active hurricane season ahead. Here's what you need to know
More storms coming: Since 2017, a ludicrous 101 named storms have formed. Expect more this hurricane season
Is June too late? How early is too early to start preparing for hurricane season in Florida?
An average season normally has 14 named storms, around seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Unlike the unprecedented lockdowns and COVID-related travel restrictions tied to the pandemic, however, the preparations for hurricane season are already built into operating plans at area hotels, Davis said. The Lodging Association also has a longstanding list of hurricane preparation guidelines that is being updated this year by officials at Volusia County Emergency Management.
In some ways, the preparation mirrors the steps that area rehomeowners are advised to follow.
How to prepare: Use our hurricane checklist to prepare for this year's hurricane season
Hurricane hacks: Taking care of your dog, if you want coffee, in case you lose power or ride the storm
“There needs to be a plan for what to do with the pool and lounge furniture, you need to be sure you have plenty of flashlights, batteries, make sure your employees gas up their cars, you need to have plenty of cash because the ATMs will be down,” Davis said.
In addition, hotels need to be vigilant that guest information is saved in case computers are down due to power outages, he said.
Hurricane's impact can extend beyond storm
Beyond the potential for property damage, hurricanes also can disrupt the visitor marketing efforts of a destination, Davis said.
“Even if a storm’s impact isn’t anywhere near us, our guests see it as a hurricane in Florida, so why would they come,” he said. In addition, if a storm heads up the East Coast toward Georgia and the Carolinas, potential visitors will be focused on weathering the storm, not vacationing, he said.
“We don’t get visitors from those states because they are busy repairing their own homes,” he said.
In recent years, Volusia’s tourism industry has absorbed the impact of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017, two fall storms that arrived only weeks before the annual Biketoberfest event in Daytona Beach.
From 2017: After Irma, Biketoberfest message is 'ready to ride'
From 2019: How tourism became Dorian's victim in Volusia and Flagler
In 2019, the threat of Hurricane Dorian forced hoteliers to close their doors over the crucial Labor Day weekend holiday.
“It (Dorian) turned at the last minute, but we shut down for three days,” said Rob Burnetti, general manager of the 212-room Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach Shores. “Nobody wants to be irresponsible, and we don’t want to put anyone in danger, so you always err on side of safety. You can lose $100,000 easy when you close over a summer weekend, but that’s all part of being here.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 2022 Hurricane season: Prep underway for Volusia County tourism
