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What to do if you're a tourist in a natural disaster
Natural disasters can strike anywhere at any time. Mother nature doesn't care who you are, how much money you spent on your vacation, or whether you bought travel insurance. Mother nature is kind of a jerk like that. So, what exactly do you do if you're lying on a Chilean beach one day and then suddenly you're in an earthquake?But first, everyone should program 202-501-4444 into their phone or keep it in their travel documents. Why? It's the phone number for emergency assistance to Americans in foreign countries, a'la the US Department of State (they'll get you help from your nearest US embassy). Additionally, you should register with the US Department of State when you're going abroad so that they can inform the nearest embassy that you're coming and keep better track of you if there's a crisis. Travel registration is a free service for which your taxes pay, and you can do it online here.
If that sounds a little big-brother-ish to you, consider how much passport stuff you go through anytime you travel abroad. It's okay for your country to know where you are. In fact, it's a very good thing, as they have an obligation to try and protect you on your travels. Also, there's a Privacy Act:
"The provisions of the Privacy Act are designed to protect the privacy and rights of Americans, but occasionally they complicate our efforts to assist citizens abroad. As a rule, consular officers may not reveal information regarding an individual Americans location, welfare, intentions, or problems to anyone, including family members and Congressional representatives, without the expressed consent of that individual. Although sympathetic to the distress this can cause concerned families, consular officers must comply with the provisions of the Privacy Act."
Basically, the Department of State can't tell anyone where you are, even if they know, unless you expressly tell them to. When you register, you can give them an emergency contact who's not traveling with you. Don't you want them to be able to tell your mom (or wife, husband, girlfriend, whoever you list) where you are and that you're okay if all the phone lines and computers are down? You can also allow them to disclose info to the media, your medical representative or your lawyers. Register up. Expats, too. I did.
FEMA lists the following crises as potential disasters:
Additional advice for expats in particular is here.
Basically, the Department of State can't tell anyone where you are, even if they know, unless you expressly tell them to. When you register, you can give them an emergency contact who's not traveling with you. Don't you want them to be able to tell your mom (or wife, husband, girlfriend, whoever you list) where you are and that you're okay if all the phone lines and computers are down? You can also allow them to disclose info to the media, your medical representative or your lawyers. Register up. Expats, too. I did.
FEMA lists the following crises as potential disasters:
- Chemical Emergencies
- Dam Failure
- Earthquake
- Fire or Wildfire
- Flood
- Hazardous Material
- Heat
- Hurricane
- Landslide
- Nuclear Power Plant Emergency
- Terrorism
- Thunderstorm
- Tornado
- Tsunami
- Volcano
- Wildfire
- Winter Storm
Additional advice for expats in particular is here.
Filed under: Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gordon Mar 15th 2010 4:20PM
Actually programming +12025014444 would be better because you'll want the country code and the "+" should handle the international dialing prefix issues for cellphone users. Very good advice!
Annie Scott Mar 15th 2010 4:41PM
Good call, Gordon! People should use the +1 or 011-1, or whatever their preferred international dialing method is.
tyrebitre Mar 16th 2010 9:42PM
Advice brought to you courtesy of the same folks who recommended duct tape and visqueen (sheet plastic) for chemical attacks. Now, tell me again about places where you unknowingly wander into a hurricane or afternoon volcanoes just happen to spring up ?
JT Mar 17th 2010 1:25AM
For better disaster prep info, go to ReallyReady.org.
Caroline Mar 17th 2010 5:08PM
ReallyReady.org leads to advertisements for safety kits. There is no valuable information.
JT Mar 18th 2010 12:09AM
My bad. ReallyReady.org is the NAME of the web site. The url is
http://www.fas.org/reallyready/index.html
olga lednichenko Mar 22nd 2010 5:37AM
there is s tech company - started by some indian entrepreneur - i forgot the name..
but ,.. its a cool device you wear and if something happens to you - (the devise senses problem0: it trigggers response to local police, ambulance, emergency, relatives and what not
regards
olga-nesher-lednichenko