The U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to New Caledonia that Category 5 Tropical Cyclone (TC) Pam, currently located 470 nautical miles north-northeast of New Caledonia, may cause significant flooding and gale force winds in New Caledonia within the next12 to 24 hours.
TC Pam is movingly slowly, tracking south-southwestward at 9 knots over the past six hours. In the next 12 hours, TC Pam is expected to intensify further and gradually turn south-eastwards. On the projected path, it is expected to pass to the east of New Caledonia, but due to the nature of the system, citizens should remain vigilant.
We urge U.S. citizens to consult the Joint Typhoon Warning Center website for the latest weather information. Tell family and friends in the United States of your whereabouts, and keep in close contact with your tour operator, hotel staff, and local officials for information about the flooding, including possible evacuation and shelter information. You should protect your travel and identity documents against loss or damage, as the need to replace lost documentation could delay or otherwise complicate your return to the United States.
Review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local news stations for updates. Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in New Caledonia enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at travel.state.gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for U.S. Embassy Suva, Fiji to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy Suva.
Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for New Caledonia. For additional information, refer to the “Traveler’s Checklist” on the State Department’s website.
Contact the U.S. embassy for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time,Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Embassy Suva is located at 158 Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva, Fiji and is open 8:00 am – 5:30 pm. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance outside of business hours, the emergency after-hours number for the U.S. Embassy/Consulate is (679) 772-8049.
