The American Institute in Taiwan wishes to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Taiwan that the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau has issued a Typhoon Warning for Typhoon Higos.  The projected track of the storm is to the south and west of Taiwan.   Although the storm is not forecast to make landfall on Taiwan, it could affect Taiwan's weather this weekend and early next week.   Americans planning travel to Hainan or Guangdong in China or to the Hong Kong area are advised to check conditions in those regions prior to traveling.   Americans may also wish to consult the websites of the U.S. Consulates General in Guangzhou and Hong Kong:  http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn ; http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov

U.S. citizens should monitor the progress of the storm on Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau website www.cwb.gov.tw/V6e/index.htm  (in English) and through local media and make appropriate provisions for food, water and shelter.  International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) also provides regular weather bulletins in English.  ICRT broadcasts at 100.7 FM in the Taipei and Kaohsiung areas and at 100.1 FM in Taichung.  ICRT also offers streaming audio over the internet: www.icrt.com.tw/en/D01.php

For additional information on storms, their effects, and steps you should take to prepare, please see the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for several useful links related to natural disasters and emergencies: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies
For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the American Institute in Taiwan.  The AIT Taipei office is located at No.7, Lane 134, Sec. 3, HsinYi Rd., Da-an District, Taipei City 10659.  The address for AIT Kaohsiung is: 5th Floor, No.2, ChungCheng 3rd Rd., Xin-Xing District, Kaohsiung City 80052.  The ACS sections of the American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei and Kaohsiung Offices, can be reached during regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by telephone at (02) 2162-2000 and (07) 238-7744; by fax at (02) 2162-2239 and (07) 238-5237; and by e-mail at amcit-ait-t@state.gov.  After hours, in case of emergency, a duty officer can be reached by calling the American Institute in Taiwan’s switchboard at (02) 2162-2000.  Should it be forced to close for business as a result of the storm, the American Institute in Taiwan will post a notice on its website: www.ait.org.tw
Taiwan airports and public transportation services may suspend operations as a result of the storm.  American citizens should confirm that transportation facilities are open and operating before traveling.