When the earthquake hit, the local hospital collapsed. I had a broken leg. I needed evacuation. My insurance said, “We have a jet, but the airport is destroyed. We can’t land.” I was stuck for 4 days until a military convoy took me out. Insurance didn’t pay for the convoy because it wasn’t “pre-approved.”
Key Takeaways
- Infrastructure Failure: Air ambulances need functional runways and ATC. In a major disaster (Quake, Hurricane), private jets cannot land.
- “Force Majeure”: Insurers often cite “Force Majeure” (Acts of God) to excuse delays. They are not liable if they physically cannot get to you.
- Ground Extraction: You need a provider (like Global Rescue) that has “Boots on the Ground” capability—helicopters, 4x4s, and paramilitary teams. Standard insurance is just a checkbook; they don’t have trucks.
- Reimbursement for Self-Rescue: If you pay a local driver $1,000 to drive you out, standard insurance often denies it as “Unregulated Transport.”
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Operational Reality.”
You think “I have evac insurance, a helicopter will come.”
Reality: The airspace is closed to everyone except the military.
- The Crisis: You wait for a rescue that can’t come, instead of self-evacuating while you can.
The Investigation: I Called Them
- Global Rescue: “In the Turkey earthquake, we deployed teams on the ground to drive members to functional airports. We don’t just wait for the runway to open.”
- Allianz: “We coordinate with local authorities. If the airport is closed, we must wait until it reopens.”
- World Nomads: “Natural Disaster Evacuation” benefit exists, but it is subject to “availability of transport.”
Comparison Table: Disaster Response
| Feature | Standard Travel Insurance | Security Membership (Global Rescue) |
| Runway Closed | Wait | Ground Extraction |
| Civil Chaos | Excluded | Covered (Security upgrade) |
| Self-Evac Reimbursement | Strict | Flexible |
| Assets | Phone Coordinators | Field Teams |
[IMAGE: Photo of a cracked runway with a ‘Airport Closed’ sign]
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Don’t Wait: If infrastructure is crumbling, move. Get to the nearest functional city.
- Keep Cash: Cash is the only way to hire a driver in a disaster zone.
- Document “No Choice”: If you hire a private car, video the chaos. Prove there was no other option.
- Get Security Coverage: If you travel to quake/hurricane zones, buy Global Rescue. You need physical help, not financial reimbursement.
FAQ
Will the military evacuate me?
Maybe, but you go to the back of the line behind locals and critical cases.
Does insurance cover the hotel while I wait?
“Trip Delay” usually covers ~$150/day.
What if I lose my passport in the quake?
You can’t fly commercially. You need an emergency travel document from the consulate.