Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens - May 24, 2012
"HURRICANE BUD"
Date: May 24, 2012
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This emergency message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico that the National Hurricane Center (NHC, www.nhc.noaa.gov) forecasts Hurricane Bud, currently a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, is approaching Mexico’s Pacific coast. The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for the coast of Mexico from Punta San Telmo northwest to Cabo Corrientes and a tropical storm warning from Cabo Corrientes north to San Blas.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Bud is moving in from the Pacific Ocean and is expected to approach Mexico’s coast on the afternoon of Friday, May 25, most likely affecting the coasts of Jalisco and Colima and including the resort areas of Puerto Vallarta/Rivera Nayarit and Manzanillo. As of Thursday afternoon, maximum sustained winds are near 110 MPH with higher gusts. More information about Hurricane Bud from the NHC can be found at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac. Proteccion Civil, the Mexican agency in charge of emergency preparedness, is also monitoring the storm and more information can be found at their websites: http://proteccioncivil.jalisco.gob.mx/index.html (Jalisco), http://www.proteccioncivil.gob.mx/en/ProteccionCivil/Colima1 (Colima), and http://www.proteccioncivil.gob.mx/es/ProteccionCivil/Nayarit2 (Nayarit).
The U.S. Consulate General will continue to monitor Hurricane Bud and will issue updated messages as necessary. U.S. citizens are urged to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions from local authorities. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all times (i.e. U.S. passport, birth certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. We also suggest that U.S. citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts.
Information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found on our “Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go” webpage, and on the “Natural Disasters” page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. 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 General’s website (http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov) for updated information. Please consult the Country Specific Information for Mexico, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta is located at Paseo de los Cocoteros #85; Sur Paradise Plaza, Interior Local L-7, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, C.P. 63732. The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta’s telephone numbers are 011 52 322 222 0069 & 011 52 322 223 3301; the fax number is 011 52 322 223 0074. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145.
The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara is located at 175 Progreso Street, Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara’s telephone number is 011 52 33 3268 2100; the fax number is 011 52 33 3825 1951. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145.
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U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara
175 Progreso Street; Col. Americana
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
011 52 33 3268 2100
http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/
The Consulate office hours are Monday through Friday
from 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. (except for Mexican and U.S. holidays).
Message for U.S. Citizens, May 18, 2012
Safety Practices & Situational Awareness
Date: May 18, 2012
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The following basic security tips are being repeated as a reminder:
Situational Awareness: Always be on the look-out for any suspicious or violent activity occurring near your home, your vehicle, and your family. If any suspicious or violent activity is observed, please move away from the threat and report specific information immediately to local police.
Take cover and/or evasive action- if you hear or see weapons, grenades, explosions, etc., at anytime, immediately get down on the ground behind solid cover or drive away quickly if you are in your vehicle. Do not/not attempt moving closer to the action to see what is happening. Once you can safely move away from the incident, proceed as quickly as possible with evasive action to remove yourself from the scene.
Drive Defensively- In addition to the threat from organized criminals, road rage can also lead to a deadly incident. Remember to drive defensively and avoid provoking other drivers regardless of any erratic driving near your vehicle. Keep your distance and be a courteous driver to avoid any potential for conflict.
Driving- Use the cuotas and avoid intercity driving after dark. Road signage is often inadequate. Uncontrolled intersections abound and motorists fail to yield even where traffic controls are in place. Thus, drivers should drive defensively (look for and expect cross traffic). Around town, always drive with the windows rolled up and doors locked, and when stopped in traffic, leave room to maneuver.
When Parking- Avoid leaving your vehicle on the street. Park inside a residential compound, in a parking lot with an attendant, or within continuous view of the location of your visit. If this is not possible, leave your car at home and take a taxi. When parking within a shopping facility lot, park as close as possible to the store entrance, and away from dumpsters, bushes or large vehicles. Lock the doors, close the windows and conceal boxes, shopping bags and personal items in the trunk or out of sight.
Be Unpredictable- vary your times and routes of travel to and from work, daily/weekly errands (i.e. grocery shopping), and regularly scheduled social/personal events.
Keep a Low Profile- Do not wear valuable jewelry, watches (i.e. Rolex), gold, silver, diamonds, etc. in public. Do not carry expensive electronic items in public such as I-pods, laptop computers, etc. When transport of a laptop computer is deemed absolutely necessary, lock the laptop computer in the trunk of your vehicle between points of travel and do not leave the laptop computer (or any other valuable items) unattended in any vehicle at anytime.
IF YOU ARE A VICTIM: Don’t resist an armed criminal demanding your valuables. Remain calm and avoid any fast, furtive movements. Statistics show that most attempts to resist an armed robber result in serious bodily injury and/or death of the victim. Be a good witness. Record a suspect’s description, license plate number, vehicle info, etc.
Please continue to monitor the regularly updated State Department travel warnings and information for Mexico using the following link: http://travel.state.gov
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The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara is located at 175 Progreso Street, Col. Americana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara’s telephone number is 011 52 33 3268 2100; the fax number is 011 52 33 3825 1951. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145.
The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta is located at Paseo de los Cocoteros #85; Sur Paradise Plaza, Interior Local L-7, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, C.P. 63732. The U.S. Consular Agency in Puerto Vallarta’s telephone numbers are 011 52 322 222 0069 & 011 52 322 223 3301; the fax number is 011 52 322 223 0074. For after-hours emergencies, please call 011 52 33 3268 2145.