STEP - Safe Traveler Enrollment Program
Wondering if anyone has had an overseas experience with this State Department program. It is supposed to keep you posted on possible bad things around the world as you travel and can give you the location of the nearest embassy or consulate if needed. You register your travel plans on their website.
It also is one more place all your personal information is kept with Uncle Sam.
With more and more issues arising around the globe, I suppose this is one way to keep up. However, reading the news and having news alerts via phone works. I normally keep the nearest US Government outpost addresses and phone numbers in hand when abroad.
Knowing how the Feds work, I am not sure this would give me any more pertinent information than I get now.
At any rate, if anyone has had experience that made STEP worthwhile, I would like to hear about it. Eastern Europe and South Africa are on the travel radar.
What got me thinking more than usual about this was the event back in Jerusalem in February. I woke to my phone telling me to seek immediate cover. Took about thirty seconds to realize it was the HOA in San Antonio warning about the tornado coming across the North side of town. However it was a rude awakening.
https://step.state.gov/step/
Gig 'em Aggies!