Hurricane & Typhoon Season 2011

Be Prepared

U.S. citizens considering travel to storm-prone regions during hurricane and typhoon season should carefully consider the potential dangers and inconveniences associated with their travel before finalizing plans. Those who choose to travel should devise an emergency plan in advance of their departure. Even inland areas far from the coastline can experience destructive winds, tornadoes, and floods from tropical storms, hurricanes and typhoons.

In the event of a tropical storm, hurricane or typhoon, the Embassy will send out a warden message and will monitor the storm's track, issuing updated messages as information becomes available. The Department of State may also issue Travel Alerts or Travel Warnings to apprise the traveling public of the situation. Please take this time to check your travel documents and those of your family members to assure that all U.S. passports are still valid and that any non-U.S. citizen family members have valid U.S. visas. You may need to travel to the United States on short notice and would not want to be stuck without valid travel documents.

Contact the OCS Call Center

For situations involving an injury to, or the death of, an American citizen, contact the OCS Call Center at 1-800-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444) 

Traveler's Checklist

• Prior to leaving the United States, enroll your trip on the State Department’s travel enrollment website or at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
• Check with your tour operator, airline, or charter flight company (as appropriate) regarding travel services back to the United States in the event of a hurricane, and the possibility of early return if a storm is forecasted for your region.
• Obtain a cell phone that works internationally to stay in regular contact with family and friends in the United States and advise them of your whereabouts.
• Research the region you are visiting and familiarize yourself with local procedures
• Pack an Emergency Supply Kit.
• Keep extra bottled water and non-perishable food items on hand.
• Keep an up-to-date list of local emergency phone numbers, as well as contact numbers for the nearest U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or Consular Agency.
• Protect your vital travel documents from potential water damage by placing them in a waterproof container.
• Obtain travel insurance prior to your trip to cover unexpected expenses in the event of an emergency.
• Leave a detailed itinerary and your local contact information with a friend or family member in the United States.
• Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver’s license and the credit cards you plan to take. Leave one copy of each with family or friends at home and pack the other copies separately from the originals.  Leave a copy of the serial numbers of your travelers’ checks with a friend or relative at home.