CONSULAR ALERT

Posted by Jane G on June 23, 2009, 3:24 pm
187.146.84.208

I received the following email at 9:07 this morning (just about the time my power & internet went out, or I'd've posted it sooner): United States Consulate General Guadalajara PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO AS MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE Travel Alert SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT: TROPICAL STORM – “ANDRES” Warden Message Date: June -23- 2009 This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in the Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit in Mexico, that the National Hurricane Center (NHC) www.nhc.noaa.gov and Protection Civil in Jalisco have issued alerts for a possible tropical storm system that is currently located over the Pacific Ocean. By tomorrow evening it is expected to hit the coast of Colima and Jalisco. Alerts for possible flooding conditions have been issued for those coastal areas. Please listen to local media for updates on conditions in your area. According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm warning is in effect for the southwestern coast of Mexico from Lazaro Cardenas to Manzanillo. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours. A hurricane watch is in effect for the southwestern coast of Mexico from Lazaro Cardenas to Cabo Corrientes. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area... Generally within 36 hours. At 1100 am pdt...1800 utc...the center of Tropical Storm Andres was located near latitude 16.1 north...longitude 102.3 west or about 240 miles...390 km...southeast of Manzanillo Mexico. Andres is moving toward the northwest near 5 mph...7 km/hr. This general track is expected to continue for the next day or two with an increase in forward speed. On the forecast track...Andres will be passing very near the coast of southwestern Mexico on Tuesday and Tuesday night. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 60 mph...95 km/hr... With higher gusts. Some further strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours and Andres could become a hurricane tomorrow. Residents should expect heavy rains and winds. Local flooding is likely in low lying areas. The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara will continue to monitor the storm’s track, and will issue updated messages as necessary. U.S. citizens are urged to monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all time (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. We also suggest that American citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts. Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found in the “Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go” pamphlet at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html, and on the “Natural Disasters” page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1207.html. Updated information on travel in Mexico may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Please continue to monitor the Consulate’s website for updated information: http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/. For further information please consult the Country Specific Information Sheet for Mexico, available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara’s American Citizens Service Offices, located at: 175 Progreso Street; Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, telephone number:011 52 33 3268 2100, after hours emergency telephone: 011 52 33 3268 2145, email: acsgdl@state.gov, website:http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/ . . U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara 175 Progreso Street; Col. Americana Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico 011 52 33 3268 2100 http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/

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