As floods, storms and wildfires intensify around the world, these are a few key questions to ask when considering travelling to a destination recovering from a natural disaster. From raging wildfires to record-breaking storms , a swathe of natural disasters have wreaked havoc on communities around the world this summer. Experts believe that as the climate crisis intensifies, the intensity and frequency of these extreme floods, fires, hurricanes and tornadoes will only continue to increase.
Many cities are already looking for ways to mitigate the impact of climate change-induced threats, from adding more green spaces to combat urban heatwaves to investing in flood prevention technology . As these threats become more common, travellers will have to better understand not only when it's safe to visit after a disaster, but when it's sensible. Here are some important questions visitors should ask themselves before booking a trip to a recovering destination.
After Hurricane Maria , which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, officials started welcoming visitors back to the island just three months after the storm. Though travellers were happy to return, many residents, who were still without power and running water, quickly found themselves resentful of tourists at a time when locals still lacked basic services. "I think it [left] a bad taste in locals' mouths," explained Mikey Cordero, an activist and co-founder of the Defend Puerto Rico Media Collective.
"You're enjoying my island, you'.