080918 – Natural Disaster Advisory

Natural disasters occur all over the world and cannot be anticipated.  Setting up risk mitigation measures is a best practice that should be applied in every trip.  Find below general safety advise and the most recent natural disaster events reported this week by official sources.

Events reported this week

• Earthquakes: Indonesia
• Fires: United States, Portugal
• Floods: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand

Pre-Departure

Set up your Institutional Safety Net

• Contact International SOS for a pre-travel briefing covering safety preparations and the support required to ensure the trip is feasible.
• Obtain travel authorization. Use the appropriate employee or student process.
• Register your trip in International SOS.
• Follow Traveler Guidelines, including preparing a Personal Emergency Action Plan
• Enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) if a U.S. Citizen, or follow the appropriate process with your home country embassy if not a U.S. Citizen.

If on-site on University Travel during a Natural Disaster event

Stay connected and aware of current developments

• Monitor the media and local developments closely.
• Follow any instructions or advice issued by the local authorities.
• Avoid affected areas and damaged structures.
• Expect disruption to essential services such as transportation, power, and water in the affected areas.
• Contact your loved ones to let them know you are okay.
• Reply to UTD’s well-being check message or report you are okay to IRSO@utdallas.edu even if you haven’t yet received a message.

Be prepared

• Anticipate disruption to road journeys and plan them accordingly.
• Reconfirm the status of routes and feasibility of journeys before traveling.
• Ensure you cell phone has a full charge as a general precaution.
• Be prepared to arrange alternate routes and modes of transportation as needed.
• Check your Personal Emergency Action Plan.
• Choose safe food and drinking water. Drink only boiled or bottled water, or canned or carbonated beverages.
• To get Travel or Emergency Assistance, call ISOS 24/7 to  +1-215-942-8059.  Identify yourself as a UT Dallas faculty, staff or student.
• Incidents such as this can shake anyone. If you need emotional support, please don’t hesitate to contact International SOS to request assistance.

If on-campus and a Natural Disaster event impacts your home country

Available on-campus support resources for UT Dallas employees and enrolled  students

• The International Student Services Office. Advising staff is available to students for questions about making emergency trips home or other emergency immigration concerns.  For critical immigration emergency assistance outside of business hours, call the UT Dallas Police at 972 883 2222.
• The Student Counseling Center.  If you are a student in need of emotional support, staff from the Student Counseling Center is available during regular business hours, or utilize the after-hours crisis hotline at 972-UTD-TALK (972-883-8255).
• The Employee Assistance Program provides counseling help services for employees and family members. For more information, visit the EAP website or call 214-648-5330.

If you intend to conduct travel to affected areas

Travel to affected areas is not recommended

• If traveling on behalf of the University, you will need travel authorization.  Set up your institutional safety net.  See the Pre-Departure section in this post.
• Exercise caution. Travel to the worst-affected areas should be conducted only if you are confident in your journey management planning (vehicle suitability, logistics support, and communications).
• Follow all directives issued by the local authorities and emergency services in the affected areas.
• Monitor the travel security alerts for related updates.
• Choose safe food and drinking water. Drink only boiled or bottled water, or canned or carbonated beverages.

The risk information in this report is retrieved from the listed sources. It provides general guidance for UT Dallas travelers. Please note the publication date of this post, and go to the direct sources listed above for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this post may change without prior notice.