This one hits different what to Do in Case of a Travel Emergency. jan 31 2026, 7:23pm in delhi. lights low. fan rattling like it’s nervous too. room smells faintly of cold chai and anxiety. i’ve never had the full-blown disaster. but i’ve had close enough calls—violent stomach bug in georgia, wallet gone for 45 minutes in bali—to know the panic is instant. your brain screams “you’re stuck forever.” spoiler: you’re usually not. here’s my human, slightly chaotic guide. pulled from travel.state.gov, embassy horror stories i’ve read, and my own “what if” rehearsals. not flawless. just real.
step 0: stop. breathe. figure out how bad it is
give yourself 15 seconds. life or death? call local emergency now. serious but not dying? embassy next. lost docs or theft? still embassy, but slower panic. gut check: if you’re shaking, sit down. drink water. think.
step 1: call the embassy Case of a Travel Emergency(your literal lifeline)
find nearest one: usembassy.gov → country → emergencies. after-hours emergency line: +1-202-501-4444 from abroad. they handle: lost/stolen passport victim of crime arrest serious illness / death civil unrest / evacuation
they don’t pay for flights or lawyers usually. but they replace passports fast (emergency limited one). notify family. find hospitals. visit you in jail. STEP enrollment (step.state.gov) beforehand = they text you alerts and know you’re there.
quick hits for the most common emergencies
- passport gone police report if stolen. then embassy same day. bring birth cert copy / ID / photos. emergency passport often next day or two. have digital scan ready.
- medical emergency local ambulance first (number saved!). embassy for english-speaking doctor / hospital list. call insurance for evacuation if bad. i carry my policy number in notes app.
- crime (robbed, assaulted) police report (insurance needs it). embassy for emotional support + doc replacement. they can connect you to counselors.
- arrested stay polite. don’t sign anything you don’t understand. demand embassy contact. they’ll visit and give legal referral list. Case of a Travel Emergency.
- unrest / disaster / evacuation follow embassy alerts / STEP texts. stay indoors if advised. register your location. follow their evacuation plan if one starts.
stuff i do so i’m not totally screwed Case of a Travel Emergency
- STEP enrolled.
- passport / insurance / itinerary scanned + emailed to myself + sister.
- emergency numbers saved (local + embassy).
- good insurance (medical + evacuation coverage).
- trusted person gets rough itinerary + check-in plan.
- extra cash USD hidden. power bank. portable charger.
look… travel emergencies are terrifying. full stop. but the system catches most people. embassies deal with this daily. you’re not the first idiot to drop your passport in a taxi or eat bad street food. call early. stay calm-ish. let them help.
