Om olyckan är framme / Emergency Information

In the Event of a Catastrophe

A catastrophe has occurred. You need help.

What can the Embassy 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)?

On this page you will find important information and addresses to regularly updated websites.

Many catastrophic situations are caused by tropical storms and hurricanes. In the southern parts of the United States storms and hurricanes occur frequently during the autumn from September to November.

The Embassy of Sweden has no role in evacuations or rescue operations. These matters are solely handled by American authorities.

For weather related crises, visit these websites first:

National Hurricane Center website: www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml

State of Louisana website: www.louisiana.gov

State of Texas website: www.texasonline.com/portal/tol

State of Mississippi website: www.misssissippi.gov

State of Alabama website: www.alabama.gov

State of Georgia website: www.georgia.gov

State of Florida website: www.myflorida.com

If a  catastrophe has occurred, 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 updated as needed.

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

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

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org/ - Information on what to do, what could happen, what "shelter-in-place" means.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management: www.vaemergency.com/

District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency http://hsema.dc.gov/dcema/site/default.asp

Maryland Governor's Office of Homeland Security: www.governor.maryland.gov/gohs/index.asp

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.  The link at the right will take you to a page where 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!

Updated September 9, 2008