The recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti are reminders that unexpected turmoil can strike at any time—even if you are in the middle of a ministry trip. Natural disasters, political and social unrest, and other things can cause a disruption in communications or the need for emergency evacuation.
The U.S. Department of State offers U.S. citizens the opportunity to register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where they are visiting. By making your whereabouts known to them, they can contact you in case of an emergency.
If there is a disaster or unrest, you may have limited access to vital information. Government officials can get information to you and even assist in evacuation if necessary.
While all citizens traveling abroad are encouraged to register, the government especially encourages registration for anyone staying in a country longer than a month. They also strongly encourage registering if you are going to a country that has experienced any kind of unrest, is undergoing a natural disaster, or is considered politically unstable.
Registration is simple and takes just a couple minutes from your computer. Go to https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ where you can establish an account and then provide your trip information. You can also subscribe there to receive travel warnings.
In the event of an emergency, it is a good idea to stay in touch with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are traveling. Be sure to let them know if your location or contact information changes from what you originally registered. This means you should always carry with you the U.S. Embassy or Consulate contact information for the country you are visiting. It is also a good idea to leave those numbers, along with your itinerary, with a family or friend in the U.S.
If you are traveling to a country with no U.S. officials, you should register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in an adjacent country. You also will want to check with them to see if there is a third country that might represent U.S. interests where you are going. If so, that country’s officials may be able to provide some of the same services that U.S. officials provide.
You can get information about U.S. Embassies, travel warnings, tips and more at http://travel.state.gov.