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