Public Services

EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS

In the event of an evacuation, American citizens must consider where their loved ones will gather in the event of an attack, and then ensure that the Embassy knows how to communicate with them there. These are very individual decisions, but American Citizens may want to consult the information provided on the CA and DHS websites  ( Department of State and Department of Homeland Security) for suggestions of issues to consider and appropriate precautions to take. A wealth of information on EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS is also available on the Consular website, including a fact sheet on chemical and biological weapons, appropriate responses to evacuation, and stocking a home for an emergency safe haven.

The U.S. Embassy reminds citizens that they should not rush to the Embassy or other U.S. Government installations as "safe havens" in the event of civil disturbance or other sudden developments. Rather than being islands of safety, USG-associated buildings may be targets themselves. U.S. Government facilities do not have the ability or capacity to harbor large numbers of persons. During most emergencies, the best initial action is to "stand fast" at home or in another safe location and wait for a warden message or monitor post's website for news and instructions.

GET YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

Anyone who anticipates departing and whose planned safe haven is in the U.S. must have a valid U.S. passport or valid U.S. visa; it is essential to ensure travel documents are in order before an incident requiring emergency travel happens. Authorized and ordered departure status of a U.S. Embassy signals that the U.S. Government is concerned for the safety of its employees and should be considered a signal to private American citizens.

WHAT IF PHONES ARE UNAVAILABLE?

If phones, faxes and e-mails are unavailable and an evacuation is anticipated, please tune in to radio station 909 on the AM dial or on Shortwave at 4930, 13755 or 15775 Khz to get the latest information on a developing situation and/or plans for evacuation during a crisis. When an evacuation is planned or announced, and you have access to post's website, it will speed things up at the embarkation point if evacuees download the DS-3072 evacuation/repatriation form and fill it out in quadruplicate prior to arrival. The DS-3072 is completed one per family, not per individual evacuee.

During a crisis, post can be overwhelmed with incoming calls. If you are an evacuee, please tell your relatives and friends not to call the U.S. Embassy in Harare or the Consular Section for updates on the local situation or plans for evacuation. All calls should be directed to the Office of Citizen Services (OCS) at the Department of State (1-888-407-4747 in the U.S., 317-472-2328 from outside the U.S.) Alternatively they can go to the Department of State website.

IF THERE IS AN EVACUATION

If there is an evacuation by aircraft, we will board all American Citizens. Usually minor American citizens will travel with their American citizen parents. However, an unaccompanied American citizen minor may be accompanied by one non-American escort. (Two or more American citizen minors in the same family are accompanied by one escort.) The non-American escort must be eligible for entry into the United States and properly documented with a visa. If the chosen escort cannot meet those requirements, the family must decide to select another, eligible escort or have the child remain in the country of residence.

Immediate non-American citizen family members of an adult American citizen (spouse, children and other bona fide alien family members forming part of the household of an adult American citizen) if properly documented for either the United States or the interim stopping point, my be boarded. "Bona fide alien family member" would include a family member who lives with the adult American citizen and is related through blood, marriage, adoption, or other legal family relationship. This category does not include household servants.

THE COST OF EVACUATION

Private Americans and others evacuated on U.S. Government chartered or U.S. Military aircraft are expected to pay for their passage. The cost is usually based on the most recent standard full-rate commercial fare between the starting and ending point of the flight-- in other words, the last price in effect at the time commercial flights ceased to operate.  The Embassy will do its best to provide evacuees with this figure before they are asked to sign a promissory note.

Updated: March 29, 2007: 1720 hours