Hurricane Matthew, categorized by the National Hurricane Center as a major hurricane with sustained winds of over 110 mph, has passed directly over or near Cuba, Haiti, and The Bahamas. Further information about Hurricane Matthew is available from the National Hurricane Center.
- The Bahamas: The U.S. Embassy in Nassau is closed Wednesday, October 5, through Friday, October 7. However, the embassy remains available for emergencies involving U.S. citizens. The Nassau and Freeport airports are closed. Please check Nassau’s airport website for updates.
- Haiti: The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is closed Thursday, October 6. However, the embassy remains available for emergencies involving U.S. citizens. Please check the Port-au-Prince airport website for updates on the status of the airport.
- Cuba: The U.S. Embassy in Havana remains open.
- Jamaica: The U.S. Embassy in Kingston is open. All airports are open.
At this time, the U.S. government has no plans to evacuate private U.S. citizens from the affected areas. Travelers should check with their individual airlines regarding specific flights. U.S. citizens should take shelter immediately, monitor local media, and follow all instructions from local authorities. If you are in the path of the storm, try to let your loved ones in the United States know your whereabouts and status and check in again as soon as possible after the storm passes.
You may inform the Department of State of U.S. citizens in the affected areas through the following ways:
- Visit Task Force Alert and select “2016 Storm Matthew”
- Email 2016StormMatthewEmergencyUSC@state.gov and provide as much information as possible (at a minimum, please provide their full name, gender, and last known location within country, if known)
- Call us at 1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada), +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas)
Please be assured that our offices are doing everything possible to assist U.S. citizens affected by the hurricane.
For additional information, please visit: https://www.weather.gov/ilm/Matthew
