Location: Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Barthélemy (St. Barts), St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Event: The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the Hurricane Season which lasts through November 2021.
Hurricane Season in the Atlantic begins June 1 and runs through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center expects the 2021 season to be above average. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, but do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020. NOAA predicts that the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will produce:
- 16-20 named storms
- 6-10 expected hurricanes
- 3-5 expected major hurricanes
What can you do ahead of Hurricane Season?
Get ready:
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security updates. Encourage your friends and family to register as well if they plan to travel outside of the United States.
- Be aware that in the event of a hurricane, you may not be able to depart the area for 24-48 hours or longer. Roads may be washed out or obstructed by debris, adversely affecting access to airports and land routes out of affected areas. Looting and sporadic violence in the aftermath of natural disasters is not uncommon, and security personnel may not always be available to assist.
- Please recall that all air passengers, including vaccinated U.S. citizens, require a negative COVID test 72 hours before boarding a flight.
- Obtain travel insurance to cover unexpected expenses. If a situation requires an evacuation from an overseas location, the U.S. Department of State may work with commercial airlines to ensure that U.S. citizens can depart as safely and efficiently as possible. U.S. law requires that any evacuation costs are your responsibility.
- Organize a kit of essential items in a waterproof container, including: Bottled water, any medications taken regularly, non-perishable food, battery powered radio, vital documents – especially passports.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and NOAA have additional tips on their websites:
Stay informed:
- Monitor local radio, local media, and the National Hurricane Center (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) to be aware of weather developments.
- Inform your friends and family of your whereabouts. Remain in close contact with your tour operator, hotel staff and local officials for evacuation instructions during a weather emergency.
- Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness can be found on the Department’s “Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones” webpage.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Bridgetown, Barbados
Wildey Business Park
Barbados
Phone number: +1 246-227-4000
Email address: BridgetownACS@state.gov
Embassy website: https://bb.usembassy.gov
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Contact the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 toll-free from the United States and Canada
1-202-501-4444 from other countries or follow on Twitter and Facebook
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security/alert updates
Visit Ready.Gov for information on emergency preparedness.