TRAVEL ALERT BRAZIL: Flooding Rio de Janeiro State

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Emergency Messge for U.S. Citizens: Brazil, Flooding in Rio de Janeiro State
Floods
Western Hemisphere > Brazil
1/6/2012
This message is to alert U.S. citizens to severe flooding in the northern and northeastern parts of the state of Rio de Janeiro. We recommend that U.S. citizens avoid travel to the affected area at this time. The cities of Campos dos Goytacazes, Laje do Muriaé, Santo Antônio de Pádua, Itaperuna, Italva, Cardoso Moreira and Miracema are the most affected. Local authorities report extensive damage to roads and other infrastructure due to floodwaters in this area, which is approximately 300 kilometers north of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Civil defense officials evacuated 4,000 residents of the town of Três Vendas after floodwaters burst a nearby dike.

Heavy rains and flooding have also caused extensive property damage, injuries and deaths throughout the northeastern, southern and central areas of the state of Minas Gerais.

You should monitor news and weather reports and adhere to municipal advisories before traveling to the areas in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais where flooding and/or landslides are occurring.

U.S. citizens who travel to or reside in Brazil are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to receive the most up-to-date security information. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Consulate General in Rio is located at Avenida Presidente Wilson, 147 and can be reached at phone number 21-3823-2000, emergency after-hours phone number 21-3823-2029, American Citizen Services fax number 21-3823-2093, and e-mail acsrio@state.gov. Travelers may also consult the website of the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro for more information.

U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Brazil which is located on the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website which contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook, and download our Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.