What to Do if You're Traveling During an International Crisis
In 1986, my parents took their first trip to Europe. While they were traveling, the Soviet Union's nuclear reactor at Chernobyl exploded, sending fallout into the air over several European countries. My parents didn't find out about the nuclear accident right away, because they were not reading English-language newspapers regularly. When they finally telephoned to let us know they were not in a fallout area, we were extremely relieved. Until they called, we had no idea how we could contact them.
Recent news from Kenya, including the evacuation of Peace Corps volunteers, led me to wonder what Americans in a riot-torn area could do to protect themselves and keep their loved ones informed. Here's what I learned:
First, plan ahead and register your trip with the Department of State. This will help the local embassy or consulate find you and release information to the people you designate in case of trouble.
Second, find out about the security situation at your destination before you travel. You can read the State Department's latest travel warnings and country-specific information online.
Next, create a telephone contact card with the address and telephone number of the local U.S. embassy or consulate. If an emergency arises, you'll know where to go for assistance.
Finally, know what the State Department can do for you in case of emergency. When disaster, natural or otherwise, strikes overseas, the consular staff will work to provide your emergency contacts back home with information about your well-being. In extreme cases, the State Department may be able to help you evacuate, although you will be asked to repay the government for your evacuation and subsistence costs.
Photo © Jason Conlon
Great article! I thought I might add a couple of other recommendations:
Many destination countries now have English language sections of their own government websites, so don’t be shy about looking ahead via the web, or contacting those nations’ embassies and consulates in the the USA, and learning about their national police, travellers’ aid and safety warning systems. Sometimes our State Department doesn’t have the latest information, and local knowledge can fill in the blanks.
If you are travelling with a group, it is important that you be very specific in asking tour operator and/or package coordinators how they will handle crises and protect you if and when a catastrophe occurs. I was absolutely astounded at the number of stories in the BBC about the latest Kenyan emergency and how many people on safaris were left without knowledge about the seriousness of the situation or refuge in case of local troubles because tour organisers had no plans.
Finally, thinking about mega-disasters like the 26 Dec 04 tsunami in Indonesia, or the 8 Oct 05 earthquake in Pakistan, that strike with little or no warning, devastate the infrastructure, take thousands of lives and disrupt economies for months and years, I recommend that travellers try to make basic personal survival plans whenever you arrive in a new place. Keep plenty of drinking water on hand, ensure you carry your first aid kit, and make simple notes about where you are and where you can find the nearest US embassy or consulate, the closest police and fire stations, the closest hospitals, and the closest telephones not in the place where you are lodging. On a small map, or a handheld GPS, if you note these locations, you can more quickly orient yourself and ease your mind when many others around you may be panicked.
Remember the Scout motto: “Be Prepared!”
It’s very important to leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or friend so your family can contact you. We learned this when one of our children was in a bad accident while we were spending several months in Europe. Now we make sure they know where we’ll be and how to find us before we leave home. We also stay in touch frequently via email.
Wow, Gigi, that must have been a frightening experience. I grew up in earthquake country, and my family still lives there, so I always give my loved ones a detailed itinerary so they can find us quickly.
Thanks for the reminder – itineraries are so very, very important.