Did you know that September is U.S. National Preparedness Month?
In recognition of National Preparedness Month and in view of the recent earthquakes in Taiwan, AIT reminds U.S. citizens in Taiwan to prepare for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
Consult helpful resources like ready.gov to make your plan and build an emergency kit.
You can find useful information on planning for disasters at ready.gov and at travel.state.gov. For specific information on weather and earthquake events in this region, please consult trusted local news sources, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu, the National Weather Service’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Warning System, and the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau. Taiwan also has an “Earthquake App” that can provide earthquake early warning alerts, earthquake reports, and tsunami updates.
Your emergency kit should include things like non-perishable food and water that can last several days, medications and first aid items, flashlights and radios, important phone numbers, and vital documents. Emergency shelters often provide only very basic resources and may have limited medical and food supplies.
Taiwan is in an active earthquake and weather zone and is prone to disasters that can be extremely serious. If you find yourself affected by an unexpected disaster, your preparations will be important. You should also carefully follow all local Taiwan emergency guidance and remember to contact friends and family to let them know you are safe.
Assistance:
For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please contact the American Citizen Services (ACS) unit of either AIT Taipei or AIT Kaohsiung.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler-Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.