Natural Disasters

Natural disasters can occur unexpectedly and have severe impacts on health, safety, and travel plans. Travelers should be aware of the types of natural disasters common in their destination and take appropriate measures to prepare, respond, and recover. 

Important guidelines for UTD travel abroad  

• Obtain Travel Authorization: Obtain authorization prior to departure. 
• Register Your Trip: Register your trip prior to departure. 
• Save the On Call contact to your phone. Call 24/7 for travel and emergency assistance. 

Before Your Trip 

• Assess destination risks:  Carefully review official sources to understand risks and recommendations on risk mitigation measures. 
• Create an emergency communications plan to help you manage emergencies while abroad.  
• Know Your Insurance: Review your UTD coverage benefits for university travel abroad.  
• Enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s STEP program to get alerts for your destination.  

During your trip  

• Stay Informed:
  • Monitor local news and weather reports for updates on potential natural disasters. 
  • Know the evacuation routes and emergency shelters in your area. 
  • Follow local authorities’ instructions and safety protocols during a natural disaster. 
  • Maintain hygiene and follow health guidelines to prevent illness during and after a disaster. 
  • Pay attention to local advice on how to stay safe during specific types of natural disasters, such as cyclones or earthquakes. 
• Safety examples:
  • Cyclone Safety: During a storm, stay indoors, away from windows, and avoid using electrical appliances. 
  • Earthquake Safety: If an earthquake occurs, drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until the shaking stops. 
  • Flood Safety: Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, and move to higher ground if flooding is imminent.  
  • Tsunami Safety: If you are near the coast and feel a strong earthquake, move to higher ground. 
  • Volcanic Eruption Safety: If you are in an area with volcanic activity, follow evacuation orders and avoid areas downwind of the volcano to stay away from ash. 
• After the Event
  • Ensure the area is safe before returning to your accommodation or venturing out. 
  • Inform family, friends, and the University of your safety and whereabouts. 
  • Continue to monitor local news for updates and further instructions from authorities. 
  • Be cautious of new safety issues such as contaminated water, gas leaks, and structural damage.  
  • Seek medical attention for any injuries or health concerns, access counseling services to support your mental health. 
• Emergency Services and Travel Assistance – Have a list of emergency contacts and local medical facilities for your destination. UT Dallas travelers can get travel assistance, emergency assistance, and telecounseling services by calling On Call International 24/7 at +1 (978) 651-9722. 

After your trip  

• Monitor your health for any signs of illness, especially if you were in an area with damaged sanitation systems. 
• Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctors to address any health issues that came up during or after your trip. 

Resources 

• CDC Traveller’s Health – CDC.gov – U.S. guidance on health risks, vaccination recommendations, and preventive measures for travelers.  
• CDC Food Safety – CDC.gov – Guidance on food safety after a disaster. 
• U.S. Department of State (DOS) – travel.state.gov – Check the latest safety levels, local laws, and health risks for your destination. 
• Recovering from Disaster – ready.gov – General advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community and your life back to normal. 
• International Risk and Safety website. 
• Traveler Toolkit. 
• Special Reports. 

Informative pages from other governments. Please note that not all the advice in these pages will apply to U.S. travelers. 

• Staying safe – smartraveller.gov.au – Staying safe when there’s a natural disaster. 

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