UPDATE: Evacuation Message for US Citizens in Dominica

We urge U.S. citizens in the impacted areas who are safe to contact their loved ones directly and/or update their social media status.  If you are in the affected area and need immediate emergency services, please contact local authorities. 

 

Commercial ferries are operating as of September 24.  Commercial ferries are available from Cox and Company departing from Portsmouth, Dominica.  For more information, please see the Cox and Company website.  The U.S. Department of State has no further ferry operations planned at this time.  

 

Evacuation helicopter flights are planned for Monday, Sept. 25 from Douglas-Charles Airport. Be prepared for long waits.  Passengers may be allowed carry on one small bag. Medications and any other essential items should be carried on your person.  Anyone wishing to depart should be at the airport as early as 0900.

 

The U.S. Department of State is coordinating assistance to U.S. citizens in Dominica with urgent medical needs and special considerations that have no ability to depart via commercial options.  Please email us at [email protected].  Provide as much information as possible, including:

 

  • Contact information (Cell, Satphone, WhatsApp, etc.)
  • Exact location description (provide geo coordinates if possible)
  • Medical issues / other circumstances for consideration
  • Personal identifying details (Name, DOB, etc.)
  • Number of people in group and their personal details

 

Further details may be updated on this website and broadcast on the following radio stations:

 

  • AM Radio 900
  • FM 95 (WICE QFM)
  • FM 88.1 (DBS)

 

Ross University: We are aware that there are many U.S. citizens associated with Ross University in Portsmouth, Dominica.  Ross University has arranged and paid for travel for students off the island and onward to their final destination, as well as lodging for them once they reach St Lucia.  The University has established a 24-hour hotline (1-800-488-8790) for inquiries and is arranging the evacuation of its faculty, students, and families.  The Department of State has made contact with students in Dominica, but we do not have information about the welfare of individual students at this time.  Please inform us about U.S. citizen students and faculty via Task Force Alert.

 

State Department evacuees are required to reimburse the U.S. government for their evacuation as well as organize further travel onwards from their safe haven.  At the moment, the safe haven is Martinique with outward flights that are overwhelmed by evacuees from Dominica.  Onward travel arrangements will be the responsibility of the traveler.

 

U.S. citizens should follow the emergency instructions provided by local authorities.  Monitor local and regional reports for updates on the situation.

  

The following applies to all U.S. government coordinated transports:  U.S. citizens should bring only hand luggage and their passports, any medications and essential items should be carried on your person.  No pets can be evacuated.  Only service animals will be permitted to board the flight, and strict luggage restrictions will be in place.  Evacuees may not bring weapons of any type.  Boarding priority will be given to children, elderly, and persons in need of medical assistance.  We will make every effort to accommodate special family circumstances.  Please note that shelter, food, and water may be unavailable at the airport and sea port.  We discourage U.S. citizens from traveling in the dark. 

 

Unaccompanied minors: At this time, minors are not permitted to travel unaccompanied. 

 

Pets: If you wish to leave Dominica with your pet, you will need to use commercial or private transportation.

 

Please go to FEMA’s website, www.fema.gov, for information about response efforts in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas).

 

Evacuees from Hurricane Irma should contact Accounts Receivable Division in Charleston for information about repayment of loans.  Evacuees can send an email to [email protected], or call from within the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-521-2116. International callers can call 843-746-0592.

 

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4 Comments

  1. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    September 25, 2017

    I am surprised to read that evacuees have to repay the US government. There was a time, in times of disaster and unrest the US government paid the fare.
    I am considering the Canadian government which has sent flights to such areas to evacuate their citizens.
    It appears times have changed and even evacuees must pay their way. Come on US government you could do better than that. Note what occurred to them. Where are these people getting money from to refund you? US government you are not poor. You have contingency funds to assist in emergencies.
    I am not against assisting those in need of in any manner. However, what irks me is that such governments, no exception Canada, help refugees, pay their way (some of them who have money stashed away) and when they arrive, feed, house, clothe them and give them funds. Some of them live in houses, better than some Canadians. These people are better off than even Canadian pensioners. This gets me angry. Could say more.

  2. MILITANT DOMINICAN
    September 25, 2017

    this is an example of how a TRUE Government take care of their people SKERO, look & LEARN

  3. Glenn
    September 25, 2017

    Glenn in Tortola

  4. Glenn
    September 25, 2017

    Valda are you okay, Glenn hoping to hear from you

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