Warden Message
Preparedness of AmCits Living Abroad
January 24, 2003
U.S. Department of State
January 24, 2003
Among the highest priorities of the Department of State and our
missions abroad is the safety and security of locally- resident
Americans overseas. In the past year the Department has intervened
to assist in the evacuation of Americans from half a dozen countries
throughout the world, as a result of serious political or economic
unrest, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. Hundreds of
expatriate Americans each year are forced by personal emergencies
(e.g. death or illness in the family) to return to the U.S. on
short notice. Evacuations, especially under crisis conditions,
are inevitably very disruptive and distressing for those involved.
The State Department routinely provides standard advice to its
employees on prudent steps to take to ensure they would be prepared
in the event of such an evacuation. This and other advice on crisis
preparedness is available on the Department's Web site at HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV,
and we are summarizing the principal points below. The Embassy/Consulate
commends these elementary steps to you for your careful consideration.
-- Assemble all vital documents such as passports, birth and
marriage records, vaccination, insurance and bank records in one
readily accessible location;
-- Check to be sure that your passport and any necessary visas
are valid and that you are registered at the Embassy/Consulate
with your current address and phone number. If you need to obtain
a new passport or to update your registration, please do so at
the Embassy as soon as possible. Visa processing can take several
weeks. Immediate family members should keep their U.S. visas current,
and apply for visas with as much time in advance of planned travel
as possible.
-- Make or update as necessary a complete inventory of your household
effects, in duplicate.
-- Maintain an adequate supply of food, water, and necessary
medications in your home. Make sure your car is in good working
order. Keep the gas tank full and check oil, coolant, tires, and
battery.
We do not want American citizens to become unduly alarmed. These
are precautionary measures only. Given the potential for further
acts of violence, terrorism, or anti-American demonstrations,
we believe it is important for all citizens to maintain readiness
for all possibilities in case of an emergency. We will promptly
inform you of any significant developments and advise you accordingly.
The Department of State encourages all American citizens residing
abroad to register their presence and obtain up- to-date information
on security conditions at the American Embassy located at 1201
Roxas Boulevard, Manila tel.(63-2) 301-2000; web site is at http://usembassy.state.gov/manila.
