This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Sonora, Mexico, that the U.S National Hurricane Center (NHC) www.nhc.noaa.gov and Proteccion Civil (Civil Defense) in Sonora have issued alerts for a possible tropical storm system associated with Hurricane Rick. Rick is currently located over the eastern Pacific Ocean on a northeasterly course and is expected to make landfall directly at Cabo San Lucas, Baja Sur, Mexico, early Wednesday, 10-21. Southern Sonora may experience locally heavy rain and possible flooding conditions over the next four days from this storm. Please monitor local media for updates on conditions in your area.

While it is difficult to forecast precise estimates of rainfall amounts at this time, Proteccion Civil expects rainfall to be limited to be approximately 50 ML in southern Sonora. State of Sonora officials are coordinating with federal agencies and local authorities to prepare for this emergency. Sonora Proteccion Civil has established a website to provide local information at http://www.proteccioncivilsonora.gob.mx.

The U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo will continue to monitor the storm’s track, and will issue updated messages as necessary. U.S. citizens are urged to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents at all time (i.e. U.S. passport, birth certificate, picture ID’s, etc.) or secure them in safe, waterproof locations. We also suggest that American citizens contact friends and family in the United States with updates about their whereabouts.

Additional information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found in the “Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go” pamphlet at: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html, and on the “Natural Disasters” page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1207.html.  Updated information on travel in Mexico may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Please continue to monitor the Consulate’s website for updated information, http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov/.  For further information please consult the Country Specific Information Sheet for Mexico, available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.

For any emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Consulate General Hermosillo’s Consular Section, located at Monterrey 141 Poniente, Col. Esqueda, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; telephone 662 289 3500; after hours emergency telephone cell: 662-256-0741, ACS unit fax 662-217-2571; e-mail is: hermoacs@state.gov; web page http://hermosillo.usconsulate.gov.