What the Department of State Can and Can’t Do in a Crisis: DoS in Emergencies
Our staff is raving about “Unknown”, the recently released U.S. film set in Germany. It’s a gripping thriller with a suspenseful plot, but we have one small gripe. We would be remiss if we didn’t correct a factual error in this movie about the services we provide for our citizens overseas.
During one particular scene, Dr. Harris (played by Liam Neesom) finds himself in a distressing situation and demands to speak to his Embassy. The head of security at his Berlin hotel informs him that this is not possible, as the Embassy is closed for Thanksgiving.
In real life, Dr. Harris could have called the Embassy duty officer to receive assistance at any hour, on any day, 365 days a year! [...]
The recent events in Japan serve as a reminder that we should all take action to help protect ourselves and our families in the event of an emergency. In order to best prepare for disasters, either natural hazards or terrorism-related, we’d like to point you to a valuable resource created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Are You Ready?: An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness” is an information source on citizen preparedness and contains step-by-step advice on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
Used in conjunction with information and instructions from local emergency management offices and the American Red Cross, Are You Ready? will give you what you need to be prepared.
Visit the FEMA website to download ” Are you Ready?”.
Beginning November 10, 2010, the formerly named “Internet Based Registration Service” (IBRS) will become the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
STEP is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are travelling to, or living in, a foreign country. Enrollment allows you to record information about an upcoming trip abroad that we can use to assist you in case of an emergency. [...]
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