In the Event of a Catastrophe

The foremost authority to help you at this time is your local emergency agency. The Embassy will follow the directives given by the American authorities.

There are a number of websites which will help you prepare for emergencies:

Ready.gov - From the Department of Homeland Security, information on preparing for biological, chemical, and other types of threats.

American Red Cross - Information on what to do, what could happen, what "shelter-in-place" means. Information in multiple languages.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management - vaemergency.com.

CommuterPage - Transit safety, security and emergency preparedness information for Washington area commuters.

You can sign up for cell phone, email or sms alerts from your local government:

District of Columbia 
Alert DC
Immediate text information during a crisis.

Fairfax County, VA 
Community Emergency Alert Network
Email, cell phone, text messages.

Arlington County, VA 
ArlingtonAlert.com
Emergency and public safety text message alerts.

Loudoun County:
Citizen Alert System
Emails and text messages about latest news and events affecting Loudoun County.

Prince William County:
PWC eNotifications Service
Electronic notices, alerts and information.

Montgomery County:
Alert Montgomery
Emergency notifications by email, cell phone.

Prince George's County
Emergency Preparedness

Check local media outlets for the most immediate coverage of rapidly changing events:

Radio:

WTOP Radio - 1500AM - 820AM - 107.7FM
http://www.wtop.com/

WMAL -  630 AM
http://www.wmal.com/

Television:

WRC -nbc4
http://www.nbc4.com/

WJLA - ABC 7
http://www.wjla.com/

W*USA-TV / CH.9 / (CBS)
http://www.wusatv9.com/

NEWSCHANNEL 8 / Cable CH. 8 / Local News
http://www.newschannel8.net/

What can the Embassy of Sweden in Washington do for Swedish citizens in a crisis situation such as a natural catastrophe (earthquake, hurricane, epidemic) or a tragedy brought on by humans (terrorism, criminal attacks, war)? 

• Call the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC at (202) 467-2600. A recorded message will provide you with all available information. The message will be continually updated as needed.
  
• You may also leave an email at ambassaden(.)washington@foreign.ministry.se.
  
• The Embassy website will be updated as frequently as possible.

Please be advised that, depending upon where a catastrophe occurs, you might actually find yourself closer to one of the more than thirty Swedish consulates throughout the United States than to the Embassy itself.

In such a case, please contact that consulate for information.  By clicking here you will be taken to a page where all the contact information is listed for all the consulates in the U.S., as well as their respective geographic jursidictions.

To avoid unnecessary searches, and to reduce the worry among your family and friends in Sweden, the Embassy advises all Swedish travelers in the U.S. to immediately contact your loved ones back home and let them know what your situation is. Call home!