HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

August 4, 2011. Government Warning Issued for Haiti

SOURCE: U.S. Department of State

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince released the following Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens on August 3, 2011:

This Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Haiti that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) www.nhc.noaa.gov has issued alerts for a tropical storm system that is currently located 614 miles from Port-au-Prince.

The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Emily is currently travelling north and west and may eventually result in wind speeds in excess of 74 mph prompting severe weather warnings and watches in Florida. Caribbean islands in Emily's path have already been hit with torrential rain, flash flooding, and mudslides while roads have been washed away.

The U.S. Embassy in Haiti will continue to monitor tropical storm Emily's path, and will issue updated messages, which will also be posted on our website and Facebook page. Please continue to monitor the Embassy's website (http://haiti.usembassy.gov/service.html) for updated information. Please consult the Country Specific Information for Haiti, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

In preparation, U.S. citizens are urged to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all time (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID's, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. We also suggest that U.S. citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts. Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_2915.html, and on the "Natural Disasters" page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

U.S. citizens planning travel to Haiti during this week should consult the website as well as their airline carrier. Updated information on travel in Haiti may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).