Warden Message

U.S. Consulate General
Kolkata, India
November 13, 2007

This Warden Message is to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in the Orissa and West Bengal regions of India to Cyclone Sidr, which is in the Bay of Bengal and headed north northwest towards the northern Bay of Bengal and Bangladesh. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts the cyclone will make landfall sometime later this week and will strengthen as it approaches land. Its winds could reach the equivalent of category 4 hurricane force with wind gusts of up to 225-280 km/h. Urge all U.S. citizens in your area that they should monitor the progress of the storm in local media. Cyclone Sidr can be expected to cause heavy rains, flooding, strong winds, damage to buildings, and other life threatening conditions. Americans in the region should immediately prepare for the possibility that they could be without power and/or communications and unable to move by road for some time if the storm hits their area. Airports and seaports are also likely to be closed should the storm intensify as expected. Americans should carefully monitor all weather advisories and be prepared to seek shelter farther inland.

For additional information on cyclones and hurricanes, their effects, and steps you should take to prepare for a cyclone or hurricane, please see the checklist issued by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html. Additional useful links are listed at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1207.html.

The Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata, India, can be reached during regular business hours (M-F, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) by telephone at 033-3984-2443; by fax at 033-2282-2335; and by e-mail at consularkolkata@state.gov . After hours, in case of emergency, a duty officer can be reached by calling the Consulate switchboard at 033-3984-2400.