U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate Vietnam (September 17, 2020)
Location: Central Provinces Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue, and Danang City
Event: Typhoon Noul will land in the central provinces as early as 9 a.m. local time on Friday, September 18, 2020.
The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City alert U.S. citizens to Tropical Storm No. 5, also known as Typhoon Noul. The storm is currently east/southeast of Danang, Vietnam and expected to make landfall near Hue Friday, September 18 or Saturday, September 19. Wind speeds of 80 mph/130 kph are predicted. Vietnamese authorities are instructing maritime vessels to return to port and for residents to prepare for heavy rains, winds, and flooding of low-lying areas, with the possibility of some evacuations. Northern and central localities should expect heavy rains of up to 300 mm a day. Rainfall of 180 mm a day is considered heavy. From Thursday afternoon to Friday, central provinces from Quang Tri to Thua Thien-Hue may be hit by heavy rains of 300-400 mm a day. Mountainous areas could be affected by landslides while urban areas face heavy flooding. We encourage U.S. citizens in the central area of Vietnam to follow the news closely and to take precautions appropriate to their situation.During the approach of a typhoon you should monitor the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (Tiếng Việt).
Actions to Take:
You should have an emergency plan in place before the approach of a storm. Even areas far from the coastline can experience dangerous winds, tornadoes, mudslides, and floods. Please take precautionary measures to ensure minimal disruption or damage, and have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance. You should also contact friends and family in the United States with updates on your whereabouts.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Vietnam enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Information about emergency preparedness during storm season may be found at our website here.
General Disaster Preparedness Websites:
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Emergencies Abroad website– general information and resources for U.S. citizens experiencing an emergency outside of the United States.
- U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Natural Disasters website– general information and resources pertaining to natural disasters.
- U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ready website – general information and resources for emergency preparedness
- American Red Cross – Member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Hanoi 024-3850-5000 | U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City 028-3520-4200
- State Department, Consular Affairs, 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive security, travel, and weather or disaster-related updates.
