Americans abroad warned in case of evacuation
Alerts to give advice on 'preparedness for emergency'
From Elise Labott
CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department sent a cable Friday telling embassies to alert U.S. citizens living overseas to be prepared for possible evacuation, the department said.
A senior State Department official said the alerts will be sent to remind people to take routine precautions in the event of "all possible and various unforeseen" circumstances. He did not deny that a possible war with Iraq is behind the timing of the advisory.
"I didn't say it was totally routine," the official said. "I said we are doing this and have done it before. It's just that we thought it was appropriate to remind people to take precautions."
About 4 million U.S. citizens live overseas, and thousands more are traveling outside the country any given day, the State Department said.
The alerts will take the form of "warden's messages," sent out by embassies and consulates to Americans traveling or living abroad, with advice on "preparedness for emergency," said Susan Pittman, a department spokeswoman.
Pittman said the advisory summarizes steps Americans abroad should take "to ensure they are prepared for an emergency, whether it is a personal emergency or is the result of political or economic unrest, natural disaster or terrorist attack."
The advice to Americans will include keeping prescription medicines available, keeping passports and other travel and personal documents valid, and maintaining adequate food supplies.
"Americans citizens should always be prepared to depart a country quickly if necessary," Pittman said.
She said the advisory notes that in the past year the State Department helped evacuate American citizens for various reasons in many countries, including Cote d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Israel, Indonesia and Venezuela.
The suggestions on being prepared in case of emergency, such as an evacuation, are the same advice given to State Department employees around the world, Pittman said.
