There have been wars and rumors of wars during the past few weeks, and not the least of which are those centering on North Korea. Recent headlines that have made the papers tell us that the North will invade the South sometime between July and December; that North Korean patrol boats have fired upon South Korean navy vessels; and that the North will eliminate the United States and the South once and for all. No one I have talked to seems to think that war with north will actually happen, it still begs the question, what will you do if the state department recommends that we evacuate the country? To get a more official perspective on these and other similar questions, I called Halcombe Thomas, the Consular Officer at the United States Consulate in Pusan.
Essentially, there are two basic scenarios under which we would be aske to evacuate. The simplest is that a slow number of confrontations occur between the northern and southern forces that are clearly escalating towards war. The ambassador would make a decision to order the evacuation. Instructions would be issued as to the best ways to leave the country. Watch the news to keep up with all of the latest developments under this scenario.
The second scenario involves a sudden and relatively unexpected invasion by the north. At this time, AFKN, the Armed Forces Korea Network, would broadcast instructions concerning how to evacuate. If you evacuate, you must be ready to comply with the requirements placed upon you by the government. You must realize that only your basic needs will be provided for. In the greater Pusan area, Camp Hialeah is the assembly point of any evacuation.
The Four Steps to the evacuation are to stand fast, assemble, relocate, and evacuate. The stand fast portion of the procedure occurs at the outset of the emergency when the situation may be dangerous our out of control. Your best bet for relative safety is to remain in your home until conditions are safe for travel. Do not attempt to reach the evacuation area until told to do so by the authorities.
Once the decision to evacuate has been made, the information will be broadcast, and you will be asked to go to the assembly point, this is the assemble phase of the evacuation procedure. In our area it is Camp Hialeah, so know how to get there with or without public transportation.
Once here you will be required to prove your eligibility for evacuation by showing your passport, U.S. birth certificate or naturalization certificate. If you have a Korean spouse and/or child you should bring your marriage certificate and certificate of a U.S. citizen born abroad. Keep these documents and other items necessary for travel in a safe, yet handy, place.
Since we are in Pusan, it is not likely that we will be relocated to any place before the actual evacuation. But if need be, we might travel in a vehicle convoy, chartered buses, trains, or military vehicles. If you bring your care to the assembly point, it might be commandeered for government use.
During the evacuation, you will be moved by ship or air to the nearest entry point of the United States. Foreign nationals will be delivered to the nearer transit locations, where their embassy personnel will assist them further.
If you were not in Korea to work for the government, then you will be required to sign a promissory note to repay the cost of your transportation and assistance. The amount of travel time necessary to reach the point of entry into the United States is unpredictable, so you should be prepared to spend several days traveling. Once at the entry point, where you go to from there and how you get there are your responsibility.
The Consulate recommends that you keep these things in an evacuation kit, and to designate a safe room. The safe room should be as far from windows as possible. Keep supplies in this room that will sustain you if you must stand fast for any length of time.
1) A minimum of 3 days worth of packaged ready-to-eat foods, toiletries, and baby food, formula, and diapers.
2) Keep a 30-day supply of critical medication.
3) Keep a bag with blankets or sleeping bags, extra clothing (including one warm item no matter what the weather). Pack lightly as space is limited.
4) A first aid kit and a flashlight with good extra batteries.
5) A transistor radio with good extra batteries -- to listen to AFKN radios for instructions.
6) Your passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, shot records, alien registration card, credit cards and any other important records in an accessible place.
At your first opportunity, contact your family and let them know you are safe. Tell your family and friends to contact the Operations Center at (202) 647-1512 to check on your safety in the event we are evacuated. They should not attempt to contact the Embassy or Consulate. The Embassy will help in-country people locate others in-country, however.