American Citizens Services

Warden Message

August 4, 2009

This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Hong Kong and Macau that the Hong Kong Observatory and the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) have issued a strong wind signal No. 8 for Severe Tropical Storm Goni. This means that winds with mean speeds of 63 to 117 kilometers per hour are expected with gusts reaching about 180 kilometers per hour.

At 10 p.m., Severe Tropical Storm Goni was centered about 100 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong Observatory (near 21.7 degrees north 113.4 degrees east) and is forecast to move northwest or north-northwest at about 10 kilometers per hour towards the western coast of the Pearl River Estuary.

According to present forecast track, Goni will be closest to Hong Kong in the next few hours, passing about 100 km to the west of Hong Kong. Macau and the western part of Hong Kong will be most affected by Goni.

For further details see the Hong Kong Observatory Tropical Cyclone Warning webpage or the Macau SMG Tropical Cyclone Warning web page.

Please monitor the tropical cyclone's track by listening to the radio, watching television or monitoring the Hong Kong Observatory website or the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) website.

In Hong Kong, information on signals can also be obtained from the Public Enquiry Services Centre of the Hong Kong Home Affairs Department, Tel. 2835 1473. The Hong Kong Observatory also operates an automatic telephone answering service "Dial-a-weather" (Tel. 1878200) to provide similar information. Hong Kong visitors and residents can have weather alerts sent to their computers or PDAs by subscribing to the Hong Kong Observatory WAP, RSS or Weather Wizard service. Visit http://www.weather.gov.hk for more details.

In Macau, weather information can be obtained by calling 1311 and pressing 4 for English. Macau visitors and residents can request weather alerts be sent by e-mail or SMS. See the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) at http://www.smg.gov.mo/www/e_index.php and follow the link to "services" for more details.

U.S. citizens are urged to locate shelter and follow all official instructions. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all times (i.e. U.S. Passport, Birth Certificate, picture ID's, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. We also suggest that American citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts.

Additional information on typhoon and storm preparedness may be found in the "Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go" pamphlet at: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html, and on the "Natural Disasters" page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs' website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1207.html Updated information on travel in the South China region may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Consulate General's Consular Section located at 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong: 24-hour telephone number (852) 2523-9011, direct lines to American Citizen Services are (852) 2841-2211, 2841-2323, 2841-2225; fax (852) 2845-4845; email acshk@state.gov; web page http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov.

U.S. citizens residing or traveling abroad are reminded to register with the U.S. Embassy or closest U.S. Consulate by entering your travel itinerary and contact information at: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs. In case of difficulties registering online, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

U.S. Consulate General

Hong Kong

 

---

Last modified: August 5, 2009