Civil Unrest in Egypt: How to Protect Yourself in Overseas Emergencies
The current events unfolding in Egypt certainly present a scary picture for travelers. Many tourism companies have canceled or postponed their trips, and business travelers are putting their Egypt itineraries on hold.
But what if you find yourself in a country that has a sudden meltdown -- or breakdown of infrastructure and authority?
Country in Chaos? Don't Go to the U.S. Embassy
I wrote recently that when things get tough within a country the absolute last place to go is the U.S. Embassy because it's the first embassy to be shuttered and barricaded. I always head for the Canadian or Australian embassies.
The U.S. Department of State always challenges me on this, but in the last few days even the State Department issued a warning to Americans in Cairo that security forces may block off the area around the U.S. Embassy during demonstrations, and U.S. citizens should not attempt to come to Embassy or Tahrir Square area during that time.
Travel Insurance
First, check to see what kind of coverage your company has taken out on its employees, and then discuss whether a supplementary policy is in order.
Trip cancellation and interruption policies vary widely. You must read the fine print to determine if your policy covers you in the event of civil disturbance riot or unrest - not all of them do. Policies also differ in terms of canceling a trip prior to starting one, or coverage if your trip is interrupted in the middle of it. You may be further protected by purchasing coverage that allows you to cancel any time, for any reason, but keep in mind that this can cost significantly more than traditional policies.
Emergency evacuation companies are also a resource that not everyone knows about. These are teams that are often comprised of highly specialized teams that can deal with volatile situations. Emergency rescue services like On Call and MedEx also quickly stepped into action to evacuate customers on chartered jets when commercial flights were no longer an option. The Massachusetts-based Global Rescue, which employs former Navy SEALS and ex-Army special ops vets, has already evacuated dozens of corporate employees and their families out of Cairo and Alexandria in the past few days via fixed-wing aircraft.
Again, it's crucial that you talk to your employer about what emergency policies and contingency plans are already in place, regardless of where you're headed. A couple of weeks ago, Egypt wasn't considered a volatile place for American travelers, but as we've seen, situations can change overnight.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
As we learned from recent incidents in Egypt, the first thing to go is communications. In Egypt's case, it was the Internet and cell phones. That's why I always make sure I have a reliable land line in my hotel or office abroad.
Other key items:
- Travel with a second charged battery for your cell phone, another for a pocket flashlight.
- A laminated card with all your important details: passport information, important phone numbers, bank contacts (but not account numbers) family members et al. Why laminated? So that there can't be water damage.
- A laminated card with all your prescription drug names as well as generic names.
- Last but not least I always carry at least $400 in small denomination U.S. bills. ATMs are among the first to go down in situations like Egypt, and you need spending money to buy basics and get you to the airport. Don't assume credit-card authorization machines will necessarily work. When worse comes to worse, cash is king. Plastic can be useless.
