Weather Alert for U.S. Citizens – Hurricane Season 2021
Location: Haiti.
Event: The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the Hurricane Season which lasts through November 2021.
Hurricane Season in the Atlantic begins June 1 and runs through November 30, with peak season from mid-August to late October. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/) predicts a 60 percent likelihood of an above-normal hurricane season this year in the Atlantic. The first tropical storms of the 2021 season in the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Andres, formed on May 9, the earliest named storm on record in the eastern Pacific basin. Updated forecasts are available from the National Hurricane Center’s website (www.nhc.noaa.gov). NOAA predicts the following during the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season:
- 13-20 total named storms
- 6-10 hurricanes
- 3-5 major hurricanes (hurricanes rated Category 3, 4, and 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with winds of 111 mph or higher)
Actions to take:
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)<https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/step.html> for security updates. Encourage your friends and family to register as well if they plan to travel outside of the United States.
- Plan accordingly. Be aware that in the event of a hurricane, you may not be able to depart the area for 24-48 hours or longer. Roads may be washed out or obstructed by debris, adversely affecting access to airports and land routes out of affected areas. Looting and sporadic violence in the aftermath of natural disasters is not uncommon, and security personnel may not always be available to assist.
- Obtain travel insurance to cover unexpected expenses. If a situation requires an evacuation from an overseas location, the U.S. Department of State may work with commercial airlines to ensure that U.S. citizens can depart as safely and efficiently as possible. U.S. law requires that any evacuation costs are your responsibility.
- Organize a kit of essential items in a waterproof container, including: Bottled water, any medications taken regularly, non-perishable food, battery powered radio, vital documents – especially passports.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and NOAA have additional tips on their websites:
- Monitor local radio, local media, and the National Hurricane Center (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) to be aware of weather developments. Haiti’s national weather forecast can be found here: https://www.meteo-haiti.gouv.ht.
- Inform your friends and family of your whereabouts. Remain in close contact with your tour operator, hotel staff and local officials for evacuation instructions during a weather emergency.
- Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness can be found on the Department’s “Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones” webpage.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre
Emergencies: +509-2229-8000
Non-emergency inquiries: acspap@state.gov
Website: https://ht.usembassy.gov/ - Contact the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 toll-free from the United States and Canada
1-202-501-4444 from other countries - Haiti Country Information
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
- Visit Ready.Gov for information on emergency preparedness.
