GREENSBORO, N.C. — When you hear about a hurricane or tropical storm, your first thought might be to avoid the beach.
Countless Triad families had trips planned there this week but are now changing course.
WFMY News 2's Nixon Norman spoke to four people living in the Triad, two from Greensboro, two from Lexington, who all cancelled their trips as Hurricane Debby approaches.
They all agreed going to the beach this week wasn't worth the risk.
They likely wouldn't be able to spend any time on the beach and they didn't want to risk their cars in probable flooding.
They say there's always next time.
"I was very upset yesterday but I know it's the right call," Greensboro woman, Nancy Williams said about her cancelled family vacation to Litchfield, South Carolina.
Vacations tend to bring people together. When they're cancelled, especially due to something out of your hands, it can be heartbreaking.
"It was a lot of contemplating but it was sad you know," Williams said.
Williams cancelled due to Debby. She said her two sons were supposed to join her and her husband, one who's about to graduate college and one who's just starting.
"I'm gonna be an empty nester soon so it was really sad for me. We're better safe than sorry here where we can just hunker down and stay home," Williams said.
Fellow Greensboro woman, Genny Klein agrees that taking a trip to the beach is not worth it, even though she's been through her fair share of storms.
"Well, I'm a Florida girl, #1. So, I've been through some hurricanes," Klein said.
Her biggest concern is flooded roads on the trip to South Port, North Carolina.
"Why risk someone's life trying to help me when I'm not making a wise decision? I just know it. I just know it," Klein said about cancelling her trip to South Port.
Both Williams and Klein won't lose any money by changing their plans but that's not the case for Lexington mother and daughter duo, Kara and Lillian Wood.
They tried to reschedule with the hotel they booked, but no luck.
"It’s crazy how stubborn hotels can be with when it comes to emergencies such as you know, confirmed hurricanes. It’s kind of scary that they wouldn’t you know, tell people to go away, why are they inviting people in? That’s probably the opposite of what any company should do, ever," Lillian Wood said about her family's cancelled trip to Myrtle Beach.
Her mother, Kara Wood warns people to read the fine print on travel insurance, to make sure you go with a place that doesn't exclude hurricanes.
"If you look at travel insurance, there are some with hurricane clauses and there are some without and if you’re going to book, make sure you get the one that doesn’t have an exception for hurricanes, especially in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Because if you don’t look carefully, if a hurricane comes… you loose your money," Kara Wood said.
A warning to others, as they all hope others take appropriate precautions.
"Everybody take care of each other, you never know how bad it's gonna get, how much flooding we're gonna get especially right here you know, in the Triad," Williams said.