Emergencies

Evacuation of U.S. Citizens from Slovenia

In any emergency affecting U.S. citizens in Slovenia, the Embassy will broadcast information via this web site, email distribution lists, cascading phone trees, our warden network, and local media channels. The best way to ensure you receive this information is to register with the Embassy. If the disaster is of a large enough scale and if the situation warrants it, the Embassy may advise all Americans in Slovenia to evacuate the country, and may even provide the means to do so, with the assistance of the U.S. military, if necessary.

The Embassy’s evacuation plan has one objective: to help you to move away from an area of possible danger as safely and swiftly as possible. The plan places responsibility on U.S. citizens to take an active role in their own evacuation.
 
The chances that an evacuation might be necessary are remote. However, as anywhere else in the world, you should be alert to changing circumstances and make your personal decision to depart voluntarily if you feel uncomfortable with the situation. If circumstances should change too rapidly for you to be able to leave on your own, then this web page will help you to help yourself in a safe evacuation from Slovenia.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR EVACUATION ASSISTANCE?

U.S. Citizens

Bring your passport, a U.S. birth certificate, a naturalization certificate, or any other direct evidence of your U.S. citizenship. A driver's license, Social Security card, library card, or U.S. credit card is not proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, but might be helpful secondary information.  

Foreign Spouse or Child of a U.S. Citizen

As the foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen, bring your passport and an original marriage certificate which clearly indicates your spouse's U.S. citizenship. As the foreign child of a U.S. citizen, bring a birth certificate which clearly indicates the parent's U.S. citizenship. Other supporting information about the evacuee’s relationship to a U.S. citizen spouse or parent would be extremely useful.  

U.S. Legal Permanent Resident

Also known as an "LPR" or "Green Card Holder". Bring your green card plus your foreign passport. If you do not have your card yet, bring your foreign passport showing your U.S. admittance stamp as a permanent resident. Unfortunately, if an LPR has family members who have not yet obtained a green card, then those family members are not eligible for evacuation assistance from the U.S. Embassy.  

Others

Holders of I-688 temporary resident cards, I-688-A and I-688-B employment authorization cards, border crossing cards, or U.S. nonimmigrant visas are not eligible for evacuation assistance.  

Servants

Non-U.S. citizen household servants and nannies are not considered immediate family members and are not eligible for evacuation assistance from the U.S. Embassy.  

Pets

The U.S. government cannot promise to evacuate pets. However, if it is possible to do so without endangering people, we will try. A pet must have an airline-approved container, an up-to-date health certificate in English, an up-to-date rabies certificate in English, a minimum ten-day supply of food, and complete contact information (name, address and telephone number in the U.S.) of the person who will take responsibility for the pet. Pets might not be evacuated with their owners; people will always take first priority. The cost of evacuating pets must be reimbursed.  

YOUR ROLE IN AN EVACUATION

You have responsibilities in an evacuation. While the likelihood of emergency evacuation from Slovenia is slight, you should understand how the evacuation plan works, and what will be expected of you. You should follow instructions from the Embassy and from local authorities as to when you should move and when you should stay where you are. 

You should be aware of what the U.S. government can and cannot do for you. If you are evacuated, you should be prepared to follow the instructions on this web page, and comply with any requirements the U.S. government might need to impose upon you.  

The U.S. government will work to notify you through public media, and to move you away from danger once you report to a designated evacuation center. However, the Embassy can attend to only your basic needs for shelter, transportation, and security. Evacuation may be by bus or train, by chartered airliner, by military cargo plane, or by ship. Travel and shelter conditions may be severely limited, as will luggage capacity.  

You are responsible for reaching any designated evacuation center. During a crisis, it may not be possible to drive a vehicle, so you and your family should be prepared to walk or find alternate means of transportation. Because of the numbers of potential evacuees of the terrain of Slovenia, it is very unlikely that the Embassy will be able to give you a ride to any designated assembly point or evacuation center.   

Important Points to Remember:

• Listen to the radio and television for up-to-date information from the Embassy and local authorities
• Be prepared to act quickly and follow instructions
• Remain calm and flexible