WARDEN MESSAGE - From the US Embassy

[meroberts]

This emergency message is to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico that the National Hurricane Center (NHC), www.nhc.noaa.gov, has issued a warning for Hurricane Raymond, currently located off the coasts of Guerrero and Michoac?n.

Raymond is a category 3 hurricane. According to the Mexican Comision Nacional de Agua (http://www.cna.gob.mx) as of early on October 21, the hurricane has maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, with gusts of up to 150 mph. The storm system is expected to linger off the Pacific coast for the next 48 hours, drifting slowly northward before weakening. Raymond has already brought heavy winds and rain to the region and is forecast to produce rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches with isolated amounts of up to 8 inches over Guerrero and Michoacan. Heavy rain is also expected in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Morelos, Quer?taro, San Luis Potos?, Tabasco, Tamaulipas y Tlaxcala. Schools have been canceled in the state of Guerrero and flooding has been reported in Acapulco and Ixtapa.

Travelers should notify family or friends of their whereabouts and remain in close contact with hotel staff and/or local officials for evacuation instructions in the event of a weather emergency.

Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs' Hurricane Season - Know Before You Go webpage.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mexico enroll in the Department of State?s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don?t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find Mexico?s current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Mexico. For additional information, refer to ?A Safe Trip Abroad? on the State Department?s website.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City is located at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauht?moc, 06500 Mexico, D.F. and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy dialing from Mexico is (01-55) 5080-2000 and dialing from the U.S. is: 011-52-55-5080-2000.

The U.S. Consular Agency, Acapulco, an extension of the Embassy in Mexico City, is located in the Hotel Continental Emporio at Costera M. Alem?n 121 - Office 14. The office can be reached by phone at (52)(744) 481-0100; by fax/phone at: (52)(744) 484-0300; and by email at consular@prodigy.net.mx.