https://www.vox.com/climate/377365/hurricane-milton-helene-evacuation-cost-expensive Skip to main content The homepageVox logo * Explainers * Politics * Culture * Advice * Listen * Watch Menu The homepageVox logo Navigation Drawer close Search [ ] * Watch * Listen * Play * Explainers * Politics * Culture * Advice * Science * Technology * Climate * Health * Money * Life * Future Perfect * Newsletters Become a Member * Login / Sign Up * * * * * Vox logo What if you can't afford to flee a hurricane? With 25 days left, we need your help The US presidential campaign is in its final weeks and we're dedicated to helping you understand the stakes. In this election cycle, it's more important than ever to provide context beyond the headlines. But in-depth reporting is costly, so to continue this vital work, we have an ambitious goal to add 5,000 new members. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today? Support Vox * Climate What if you can't afford to flee a hurricane? Evacuating during a climate disaster is necessary. It's also incredibly expensive. by Whizy Kim Updated Oct 11, 2024, 1:40 PM UTC * * NAPLES :Florida Residents Prepare For Hurricane Milton NAPLES :Florida Residents Prepare For Hurricane Milton On early Thursday, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm. Getty Images/Joe Raedle Whizy Kim Whizy Kim is a reporter covering how the world's wealthiest people wield influence, including the policies and cultural norms they help forge. Before joining Vox, she was a senior writer at Refinery29. Even when a life-threatening hurricane is headed your way, there are many reasons why you might stay put. You might have dependent family members who can't leave due to disabilities or other health-related reasons; you might not have reliable transportation to get to a safer area, and what's more, no gas to get there. Sometimes, you simply refuse to leave your home and everything you own behind. There's also the reality of just not being able to afford it. In a 2021 University of South Florida survey, over half of the state's residents said that finances would impact whether they evacuated from a hurricane or not, with almost 43 percent saying they had under $1,000 for emergencies. People escaping both Hurricane Milton and Helene -- a Category 4 hurricane that heavily impacted the southeastern US in late September -- report spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars to get to safety. Connie Vickers, 63, typically resides about an hour outside of Asheville, North Carolina. It cost her about $5,000 to book the first available Airbnb she could find to evacuate from Hurricane Helene. She considers herself fortunate -- she could pay that out of pocket, with the hope that her insurance would cover some or all of the cost. "I've been thinking about the socioeconomic differences," she tells Vox. She knows that others aren't able to pay these high costs. Terrifyingly, anecdotes of people seeing outrageous flight, hotel, and rental car prices have spread like wildfire on social media in the lead-up to Hurricane Milton's landfall as a Category 3 storm. On TikTok, one woman in Southwest Florida has been explaining why it's so difficult to leave home with six children and four dogs. Many shelters don't accept pets. "I would have to book an Airbnb or something," she says in one video. "I can't afford to do that." Flights, hotels, or gas can be pricey -- if they're even available The longer someone waits to evacuate, the costlier evacuation is likely to be. One 2011 study estimated that evacuation costs for a Category 3 hurricane could increase from $454 about three days before expected landfall to $526 mere hours before landfall, which is about $632 to $732 in today's dollars. While the cheapest one-way flight from Tampa to Atlanta in mid-November can be had for just $39, according to Google Flights, on October 8, the cheapest the search engine showed was $321. The cheapest one-way ticket from Tampa to NYC, usually available for $45 to $90, was $458. Plane tickets are priced dynamically, typically shooting up during busy travel periods and when you're booking last-minute. A United spokesperson told Vox that the airline had implemented fare caps this past Sunday. "Since then, the average price for a one way, economy class ticket to our hubs from affected Florida markets was below $500," the spokesperson wrote in an email. They also noted that the viral screenshots of $1,000-plus fares from Tampa to St. Louis included two stops. By early Tuesday, though, it was hard to find any nonstop flights from Tampa. Delta and American Airlines have also capped fares. Whether these tickets actually existed is also a different matter -- going directly to airline websites often showed that there were actually no available flights, since airports were closed and many flights had been canceled. By Tuesday, when many evacuation orders were just going into effect, options were increasingly limited -- and costly -- for Floridians in the path of Milton. Many airports were closing down. As of Wednesday, FlightAware data showed that 90 percent of flights out of Tampa International Airport were canceled. Rental car locations were either running out of cars or shutting down for safety as of Tuesday, and according to GasBuddy, a site that helps people track prices and availability at nearby gas stations, fuel was scarce. Finding a place to stay is an uphill climb, too. At the time of writing, many hotels in Northwest Florida had filled up. While there are free shelters available across Florida counties where evacuation orders have been issued, as well as free shuttle services or other free transportations options, not everyone may be in an area where they can access them. There are also several reasons why people choose not to go to a shelter: They may not be sure exactly where it's located, whether it's full, or may not be able to bring their pets. Being poor and having few job protections makes it harder to escape a storm People with the least money are also often least likely to be able to escape a natural disaster. They are less able to leave work in advance to beat traffic or book lodgings and flights before they're all sold out, and in the long term, less able to permanently move to an area at lower risk of hurricanes -- yet another example of how it can be more expensive to be poor. The Gulf Coast faces some of the highest poverty rates in the US, and the combination of extreme poverty and higher rates of poor health (often due to racial inequality and environmental factors) leaves residents in this region especially vulnerable during disasters. Carson MacPherson-Krutsky, a research associate at the Natural Hazards Center at University of Colorado Boulder, is currently studying the factors that motivate people to evacuate and shelter -- or not -- for hurricanes and tornadoes. "A huge one is resource constraints," she tells Vox. "You have to have lodging wherever you're going. You may need to have social support, potentially, if you want to stay with family and friends who are outside of the area. You have to have the ability to leave your job." Even in ordinary times, hotel and flight prices can be tough to stomach. Average hotel prices in the US have risen this year; across the country, it has become increasingly common to pay upward of $200 per night for a room. The cost of buying a car, maintaining it, and having insurance for it has also gone up precipitously in the past few years. Then there are the higher food prices to consider. If you've evacuated to temporary lodgings and don't have a stove, eating out can quickly become costly. Over a quarter of Americans had less than $500 in their checking account last year, according to a CNBC Select survey, and over half of Americans have less than $1,000 saved for emergencies. A Fox Business report from 2017 estimated that hurricane preparation and evacuation could cost an average family as much as $5,000; a New York Times report from 2018, when Hurricane Florence ravaged North Carolina, cites one family having to cough up over $2,000 to evacuate. It can be prohibitively expensive to survive a storm. For some, the risk of lost wages or other consequences of missing work may have influenced their decision to stay put. During Hurricane Helene, a factory called Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee, allegedly told employees to continue working despite flood warnings in the area. The company denies that it discouraged employees from leaving, saying in a video statement last week that they had been told to leave "at least 45 minutes before the gigantic force of the flood hit the industrial park." It's currently being investigated after 11 workers went missing, at least five of whom have since been found dead. How the government -- and some companies -- are trying to help To ease some of the costs of evacuation, the state of Florida has suspended road tolls and has encouraged hotels to waive pet fees. Uber, which famously came under fire for surge pricing in New York during Hurricane Sandy, is giving people fleeing Milton free rides to shelters. Major US airlines, including United, American, and Delta are waiving some fees if you need to rebook a flight. A few hotels have also been offering "distress rates" for evacuees, with one Myrtle Beach resort charging as little as $39 per night before taxes, and rooms at an Orlando area hotel chain starting at $69 before taxes. The supply-and-demand explanation for why things like flights and hotels can cost more during emergencies is that a lot of people are trying to snap them up at the last minute. That doesn't mean it's in a company's best interest to hike prices, especially when people have been airing their sticker shock online. In some cases, it could even be illegal price gouging. "Price gouging is different than a normal market increasing prices," says Teresa Murray, director of the Consumer Watchdog office at the Public Interest Research Groups. It usually needs to occur during some kind of emergency, and only applies to essential goods. One clear example of price gouging, according to Murray, happened during the baby formula shortage in 2022. Right now, 37 states have some sort of anti-price gouging law in the books. Florida's anti-price gouging law doesn't kick in unless an official state of emergency has been declared, which Gov. Ron DeSantis did this past weekend. If the price of food, water, or gas, for example, "grossly exceeds" the average prices seen in the 30 days before the state of emergency, that's illegal -- but it's not clear what "grossly exceeds" exactly means. Some states set a price increase threshold, such as anything more than 10 percent above normal prices. The Florida attorney general's office has urged residents to report any price gouging they see; it was already investigating potential price gouging after receiving hundreds of complaints during Hurricane Helene. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on X that the Department of Transportation is "keeping a close eye on flights in and out of areas affected by Hurricane Milton" to ensure there's no price gouging, and the department is now in touch with airlines about the issue. Typically, Murray adds, we see a lot of price gouging -- whether it's water, food, or supplies needed for clean-up and repair, like chainsaws -- happening in the aftermath of a disaster. With Milton, too, we might see more of it occurring as recovery efforts begin. "It's just unconscionable that some companies might be taking advantage of this crisis by jacking up their prices," Murray says. "We're talking about people's lives here." You've read 1 article in the last month Here at Vox, we believe in helping everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help to shape it. Our mission is to create clear, accessible journalism to empower understanding and action. If you share our vision, please consider supporting our work by becoming a Vox Member. Your support ensures Vox a stable, independent source of funding to underpin our journalism. If you are not ready to become a Member, even small contributions are meaningful in supporting a sustainable model for journalism. Thank you for being part of our community. Swati Sharma Swati Sharma Vox Editor-in-Chief Membership MonthlyAnnual One-time ( )$5/month (*)$10/month ( )$25/month ( )$50/month ( )Other ( )$50/year ( )$100/year ( )$150/year ( )$200/year ( )Other ( )$25 ( )$50 ( )$100 ( )$250 ( )Other Join for $10/month We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via [image] See More: * Climate * Money * Natural Disasters * Policy * Poverty More in this stream See all For some evacuation defiers, Hurricane Milton is a social media goldmineFor some evacuation defiers, Hurricane Milton is a social media goldmine For some evacuation defiers, Hurricane Milton is a social media goldmine By Alex Abad-Santos Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton By Miles Bryan and Sean Rameswaram These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated.These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated. These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated. By Li Zhou Most Popular 1. The resurgence of the r-word Member Exclusive 2. The one horrifying story from the new Menendez brothers doc that explains their whole case Member Exclusive 3. Take a mental break with the newest Vox crossword 4. The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms 5. How "Divorce him!" became the internet's de facto relationship advice Today, Explained Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day. Email (required) [ ] Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Advertiser Content From Sponsor Logo This is the title for the native ad Sponsor thumbnail More in Climate These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated. These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated. Why we've been seeing the northern lights so often lately Why we've been seeing the northern lights so often lately Hurricane Milton slams Florida: What you need to know Hurricane Milton slams Florida: What you need to know A new report reveals "catastrophic" declines of animals worldwide -- but is it accurate? A new report reveals "catastrophic" declines of animals worldwide -- but is it accurate? The shady origins of the climate haven myth The shady origins of the climate haven myth The latest on Hurricanes Milton and Helene The latest on Hurricanes Milton and Helene These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated.These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated. ClimateOct 10 These Floridians couldn't flee Hurricane Milton. They're incarcerated. Multiple Florida jails opted not to evacuate despite being in the storm's direct trajectory. By Li Zhou Why we've been seeing the northern lights so often latelyWhy we've been seeing the northern lights so often lately ScienceOct 10 Why we've been seeing the northern lights so often lately Scientists are getting better at predicting the sun's antics. By Umair Irfan Hurricane Milton slams Florida: What you need to knowHurricane Milton slams Florida: What you need to know ClimateOct 10 Hurricane Milton slams Florida: What you need to know Severe flooding, tornado damage, and several deaths have been reported so far. By Benji Jones and Lavanya Ramanathan A new report reveals "catastrophic" declines of animals worldwide -- but is it accurate?A new report reveals "catastrophic" declines of animals worldwide -- but is it accurate? Down to EarthOct 9 A new report reveals "catastrophic" declines of animals worldwide -- but is it accurate? A new wildlife report is drawing scrutiny from some scientists, though it's alarming nonetheless. By Benji Jones The shady origins of the climate haven mythThe shady origins of the climate haven myth ClimateOct 9 The shady origins of the climate haven myth How the media, city mayors, and the real estate industry filled us with false hope. By Adam Clark Estes The latest on Hurricanes Milton and HeleneThe latest on Hurricanes Milton and Helene LIVEOct 9 The latest on Hurricanes Milton and Helene Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, around 8:30 pm Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 storm with up to 120 mile-per-hour winds. Follow her for the latest news and updates. By Vox Staff Advertiser Content From Sponsor Logo This is the title for the native ad --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Latest 4:25 PM UTC For some evacuation defiers, Hurricane Milton is a social media goldmine 12:30 PM UTC AI companies are trying to build god. Shouldn't they get our permission first? 11:00 AM UTC Creativity as a spiritual practice Oct 10 These California and Colorado ballot measures are terrifying the meat industry Oct 10 Toxic lies are surging in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton Oct 10 So, what was the point of John Mulaney's live Netflix talk show? Vox logo * * * * * * About us * Our staff * Ethics & Guidelines * How we make money * Contact us * How to pitch Vox * Newsletters * Privacy Notice * Terms of Use * Cookie Policy * Cookie Settings * Licensing * Accessibility * Platform Status * Careers (c) 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved