The Office of the President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has declared a state of emergency due to severe drought conditions caused by the recent El Niño Southern Oscillation. According to the RMI government, rainfall across the RMI is below 50 percent of average in the first quarter of 2016, and lack of precipitation will result in a decrease in the water supply. El Niño conditions are expected to persist through July 2016.
The National Weather Service warns that water supplies are at risk and conservation measures are needed to avoid the depletion of wells and catchments. You should monitor wells for excess salinity. Monitor water catchments closely in the coming weeks and months. The drought conditions will worsen, as very spotty rainfall is predicted over the next several months.
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Republic of the Marshall Islands Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, located at Mejen Weto, Oceanside, Majuro Atoll, at +692-247-4011, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +692-455-8213.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
