U.S. Has Advice For Americans Abroad

In a move that appeared to be linked to a possible war with Iraq, the State Department said Friday it is taking steps to alert Americans overseas on how to prepare for emergency situations.

U.S. officials said such advisories are sent out periodically and that the new alert was not necessarily related to developments in the Middle East or North Korea, reports CBS News Reporter Charles Wolfson. But officials were unable to say when the last such advisory had been issued.

State Department spokesman Susan Pittman said the alert "summarizes general steps American citizens traveling or living abroad should follow to ensure they are prepared for an emergency, whether it is a personal emergency or is the result of political or economic unrest, imminent disaster or terrorist attack."

Pittman said the message contains advice such as the need to keep prescription medicines available, to keep passports and other travel documents valid and current and to maintain adequate food supplies.

Each year hundreds of expatriate Americans return to the U.S. on short notice because of family crises, such as death or illness, so they must be prepared in case sudden travel is needed.

"American citizens should always be prepared to depart a country if necessary." Pittman said.

In the past year, she said, U.S. officials have intervened to assist in the emergency departure of Americans from a number of countries, including Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Venezuela, Israel and Indonesia.