If you are caught in a natural disaster or civil disturbance here in Kazakhstan, you should let your relatives know as soon as possible that you are safe. You may contact the American Citizen Services Unit, which will try to pass a message to your family through the State Department. Be resourceful. U.S. officials will do everything they can to contact and advise you. However, they must give priority to helping Americans who have been hurt or are in immediate danger. In a disaster, Consular officers face the same constraints you do – lack of electricity or fuel, interrupted telephone lines, closed airports, etc. You should monitor news reports and contact the Embassy to find out if an advisory has been issued.
The Embassy encourages all Americans resident in Kazakhstan to plan ahead and consider what they would do in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
We have prepared the following documents to help:
- Emergencies and Crises on the U.S. Department of State Travel web site. South and Central Asia.
You may also want to consult the Overseas Security Advisory Council’s information on Kazakhstan and South and Central Asia.