Please note
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
To those of us who live, work and play in Albania, earthquakes, floods and fires are a way of life. In the event of a major natural disaster, the U.S. Embassy expects that major roads will be impassable, communications systems will be inoperative, and emergency services will be unavailable for some time. The U.S. Embassy will face the same constraints as you – lack of electricity or fuel, limited or no phone and internet service, overwhelmed medical services – and will not be able to assist you for a significant period of time following a disaster.
Before a Disaster
Have a plan! Devise an emergency communication plan for reuniting your family members after a natural disaster. Make sure everyone in your home knows where to meet, as cellular and internet services will not be functional after a major disaster. Also make sure that you have one person outside of Albania who will be able to coordinate family contact in the event that your family gets separated.
Build a kit! An emergency kit will be critical during a disaster, as emergency services and the U.S. Embassy will not be able to help you for a significant period of time. We recommend building separate kits for your home, work and car.
Ready.gov, Fema.gov, and the American Red Cross have created several emergency preparedness guides to help you and your family build an emergency kit and prepare for several different types of disasters:
- Ready.gov Car Safety Checklist
- Fema.gov Disaster Preparedness Page
- American Red Cross “Be Red Cross Ready” Emergency Preparedness Kit (PDF 64.54 KB);
- ARC Earthquake Safety Checklist (PDF 229.28 KB);
- ARC Flood Safety Checklist (PDF 78.08 KB);
- ARC Wildfire Safety Checklist (PDF 256.9 KB);
It may be a week before emergency services or the Embassy will be able to assist you in the event of a major emergency. Please ensure that you and your family have enough water, supplies and medication to last until help can arrive.
During a Disaster
Be resourceful. In the event of a catastrophic emergency, Albanian emergency services, the Albanian Red Cross and the U.S. Embassy will not be able to contact or help you for a significant period of time. U.S. officials will do everything they can to contact and advise you, but we must give priority to helping Americans who have been hurt or are in immediate danger.
During localized disasters, we strongly advise that you monitor TV and radio news reports and our website to find out if an advisory has been issued. In the event of a major disaster, electricity, internet and cellular services will not be available. We advise citizens to find the strongest signal possible on battery-powered radios to get news and information on evacuations and rally points.
While the Albanian Red Cross does not have rally points in Albania, we encourage you to reference their website (http://www.kksh.org.al/) for more information during a crisis.
Communicate. If you are caught in a natural disaster or civil disturbance in Albania, you should let your relatives know as soon as possible that you are safe.
Contact Information
U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services (ACS):
Hours of Services: Monday to Thursday, 1:15 to 3:15 p.m.
Phone Number: +355-(0)-4224-7285
Email Address: ACSTirana@state.gov
Website: U.S. Embassy Tirana
Department of State’s Overseas Citizens Services
Phone number (in U.S.): +1-888-407-4747
Phone number (outside of U.S.): +1-202-504-4444
The Embassy encourages all U.S. citizens in Albania to plan ahead and consider what they would do in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.