TRAVEL ALERT - TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 092346

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC XL
SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT - TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV


1. This Travel Alert is being issued to urge American
citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to
areas affected by Tropical Storm Gustav in Haiti,
Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Mexico's Yucatan
Peninsula. U.S. citizens in areas likely to be impacted
by Tropical Storm Gustav who do not have access to
adequate and safe shelter should consider departing while
commercial flights are still available. This Travel
Alert expires on September 15, 2008.


2. The storm is predicted to pass close to and possibly
over Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba on August 28,
2008, and it is expected to increase to a category 1
Hurricane. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports
are posted at:
http://nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtm l/203214
.shtml


3. The U.S. embassy in Port au Prince, Haiti, will be
available for emergency services but has suspended
regular operations for August 27. The U.S. missions in
Jamaica, Cuba, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula will be
available for emergency services but during the storm may
be forced to suspend regular operations without notice.
U.S. citizens in areas likely to be impacted by Tropical
Storm Gustav who do not have access to adequate and safe
shelter should consider departing while commercial
flights are still available. Seating capacity on
commercial flights may be extremely limited. Flights
into and out of international airports may be suspended
at any time. If staying in country, U.S. citizens are
urged to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and
follow all official instructions. Visitors to affected
areas of Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and
the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico should be familiar with
their hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans, policies,
and procedures. Please see the Hurricane Travel Alert
regarding hurricane season dated May 30, 2008, on the
Department's website at travel.state.gov and
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurr icane_se
ason/hurricane_season_3795.html



3. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents
(e.g., U.S. passport, birth certificate, photo ID's,
etc.) with them at all times or secure them by placing in
a safe, waterproof location. Additionally, American
citizens in the areas affected by the storm are reminded
to stay in contact with friends and family in the United
States to
keep them apprised of their current whereabouts.


4. Americans residing or traveling in Haiti, Jamaica,
the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula
are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through
the State Department's travel registration website,
https://travelregistration.state.gov.


5. Updated information on travel may be obtained from
the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within
the United States, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. For
further information please consult the Country Specific
Information available via the Internet at
http://travel.state.gov. Please see the following
contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates:
To contact the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti -
please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit
of the Embassy's Consular Section, located at Boulevard
du 15 Octobre, Tabarre 41, Tabarre, Haiti; telephone
(509) 2-229-8000; after hours emergency telephone (509)
2-229-8000; ACS Unit fax (509) 2-229-8027; and e-mail at
acspap@state.gov.
To contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, please

STATE 00092346 002 OF 002


contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy located
at 142 Old Hope Road in the Liguanea area of Kingston,
tel. (876) 702-6000. For emergencies after hours, on
weekends, and holidays, U.S. citizens may call the
Embassy at (876) 702-6000 and ask the marine on duty to
transfer the call to the Embassy duty officer.

The Consular Agency in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is located
at St. James Place, 2nd Floor, Gloucester Avenue, tel.
(876) 952-0160.

The Consular Agency in the Cayman Islands is located at
222 Mirco Center, North sound Road, Georgetown, Grand
Cayman, tel. (345) 945-8173.

The U.S. Interest Section in Havana, Cuba, is located at
Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado; telephone (537)
833-3551 through 833-3559. Hours are Monday through
Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m. http://havana.usinterestsection.gov/.

The U.S. Consulate in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, has
responsibility for the Mexican States of Quintana Roo,
Yucatan, and Campeche. The Consulate remains open for
business. The Consulate can be reached during its regular
business hours (M-F, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by telephone
at 999-942-5700; by fax at 999-942-5777; and by email at
meridacons@state.gov. After hours, a duty officer can be
reached by calling the Consulate's main number.

The Consulate maintains Consular Agencies in Cancun,
Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen. Contact information for
those offices is below:

Cancun: (tel) 998-883-0272 / (fax) 998-883-1373
Cozumel: (tel) 987-872-4574 / (fax) 987-872-6662
Playa del Carmen: (tel) 984-873-0303 / (fax) 984-873-0481



6. Minimize considered.
RICE