Country Profile for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Risk Rating

General Information

Country Map
Red (High Risk) InTouch advice:
Most parts of the country are dangerous.
Do not travel unless absolutely necessary.


Amber (Moderate Risk) InTouch advice:
Some parts of the country are dangerous.
Travel with caution.


Green (Low Risk) InTouch advice:
Most parts of the country are safe.
Travel freely.
 
Capital: Washington D. C.

Major Languages: English

Currency: U.S. Dollar

Timezone: GMT -5:00 to -10:00
 

Overview

Overview

 

The United States is a stable and advanced country with few major security concerns. The ongoing drug-related violence in neighbouring Mexico has been identified as a growing threat to US national security, and the immediate border between the two countries should be avoided.   However, general crime levels throughout the country are relatively low and have been falling steadily over the last two decades. Gun related crime continues to be an issue, and murder rates in the US are higher than in most other Western countries.  A number of high profile mass shootings have taken place across the country recently, such as the Aurora, Colorado shooting which left 12 people dead.

The ongoing threat of terrorism in the US was highlighted in April, 2013 when two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon, leaving three people dead and wounding more than 260 others.  This was the first successful major attack since 9/11; however, a number of plots have been foiled in recent years.  On 1 May, 2010, Times Square in New York was evacuated after the discovery of a car bomb in the area, while in 2012 a Bangladeshi man was arrested for allegedly planning to blow up the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.  Further indiscriminite attacks are likely, particularly in major US cities.
  
Many of the southern and mid-west states of the US are affected by tropical weather systems, particularly during the Atlantic hurricane season, which usually occurs between June and November.  In 2005 Hurricane Katrina killed more than 1,800 people in New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast area.  Visitors should monitor local media and the National Hurricane Center (www.nhc.noaa.gov) for up-to-date weather information during these months.

There is a risk of earthquakes along much of the western coast with the San Andreas Fault, the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, running for some 810 miles through California.  Seismic activity in the Pacific Northwest caused Mount St. Helens to erupt in 1980, causing the largest debris avalanche in recorded history and the deaths of 57 people.  The most recently recorded volcanic activity at Mount St. Helens took place in 2008. 

Alerts

Alert for United States Of America

 

Six killed as tornado hits northern Texas - 16 May 2013:

At least six people have been killed and dozens of others wounded after a tornado struck the Dallas-Fort Worth area of northern Texas.  The most severe damage was reported in the Rancho Brazos neighbourhood of Granbury, where 14 people remain missing.

Four jailed over terrorist recruitment in Minnesota - 15 May 2013:

Four men have been jailed in the US state of Minnesota for trying to recruit fighters for the Somali militant group al-Shababab.  Investigators said that around 20 young ethnic Somalis had been recruited between 2007 and 2009 to fight for the group.

Shooting spree leaves 19 wounded in New Orleans - 13 May 2013:

At least 19 people, including two children, have been wounded in a shooting spree during a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans.  An FBI spokeswoman said there was no indication that the shooting was an act of terrorism, instead classifying it as street violence.

Marathon bombing suspect in police custody - 20 April 2013:

Boston police have captured the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings following an extended manhunt.  Dzhokar Tsarnaev was found suffering from gunshot wounds and has been taken to hospital.  His brother and fellow suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed during a shootout with police at the MIT campus on Thursday.

Boston police hunt marathon bomb suspect - 19 April 2013:

Police are hunting for a man suspected of being behind the twin bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday.  Another suspect died during a shootout with police on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) late on Thursday, during which a police officer was also killed.  Police are warning all residents to stay indoors, while authorities have also shut down the city's transport systems.

Texas fertilizer blast wounds dozens - 18 April 2013:

Between five and 15 people have been killed in a huge explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas.  More than 160 people were wounded in the blast in the small town of West, with 65 being treated for injuries at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco.

FBI begins investigation into Boston bombings - 16 April 2013:

The FBI have taken over the investigation into the twin bombings which left three people dead and more than 100 others wounded at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  In a statement the bureau's lead agent said the inquiry was being treated as "a criminal investigation that is a potential terrorist investigation". 

Twin blasts hit Boston Marathon - 15 April 2013:

At least two people have been killed and 23 others wounded after two bombs exploded at the finishing line of the Boston Marathon.  A third controlled explosion was carried out by police in the city, while two other improvised devices were also found in the area.

Dozens killed in Connecticut school shooting - 14 December 2012:

A school shooting at a primary school in Connecticut has left 26 people dead, including 20 young children.  The lone gunman, who had earlier shot dead his mother, committed suicide after the rampage at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown.

Hurricane Sandy slams eastern US - 30 October 2012:

Hurricane Sandy has slammed the eastern US coastline, causing extensive flooding, knocking out power and causing widespread travel disruptions.  The storm, which was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone last night, made land at Atlantic City in New Jersey and is now headed towards Pennsylvania.

Hurricane Sandy heads towards US - 26 October 2012:

Hurricane Sandy appears to be heading towards the eastern US coastline after sweeping through Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.  The latest hurricane models suggest that Sandy will make land around north Carolina and the wider mid-Atlantic region.

US agent shot dead bear Mexico border - 03 October 2012:

A US border patrol agent has been shot dead near the US-Mexico border in Arizona.  Nicholas Ivie and a colleague reported taking gunfire around 8 km north of the border at 0200 local time.

Deadly shooting at Empire State Building - 24 August 2012:

At least two people have been shot dead outside the Empire State Building in New York.  Several others were wounded in the incident, which occurrend during the morning rush hour.  The gunman, who is being described a disgruntled worker, was killed by police.

Shooting reported at Sikh temple in Wisconsin - 05 August 2012:

A shooting has been reported at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Winsconsin.  At least seven people have been killed, including the gunman, while a police officer remains in a critical condition.

Ten shot dead at Denver film premiere - 20 July 2012:

Ten people have been shot dead and more than 30 wounded after a gunman opened fire at a film premiere in the city of Denver.  Local media are reporting that one suspect has been arrested and is now in police custody.

Heatwave leaves dozens dead - 08 July 2012:

At least 42 people have died after a heatwave brought record temperatures across a number of eastern states.  Temperatures reached 107F in St Louis and 105F in Washington DC.

Protesters clash with Chicago police outside NATO summit - 21 May 2012:

Protesters have clashed with riot police outside the NATO summit meeting in Chicago.  The demonstrators were calling for an immediate withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan.

US warns of increased terrorist threat on 9/11 anniversary - 09 September 2011:

The US has warned of an increased threat from terrorism ahead of the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  The warning is based upon a "specific, credible threat" and extra security has been deployed in New York and Washington DC.

Tornado kills 89 in state of Missouri - 23 May 2011:

At least 89 people have been killed by a tornado in the US state of Missouri.  The worst of the damage has been seen in the city of Joplin where houses and offices were flattened by the storm.  The governor has declared a state of emergency and warned of further storms in the area.

Latest storms kill more than 170 in southern US - 28 April 2011:

The latest barrage of storms and tornadoes have killed at least 170 across the southern US states of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi.  States of emergency have been declared in seven states and further heavy storms are forecast.

Severe storms leave more than 40 dead - 18 April 2011:

Severe storms and tornadoes throughout the southern US have left at least 40 people dead and more than 80 injured.  North Carolina was the most severely by the storms and a state of emergency has been declared by the governor.  Deaths have also been reported in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Virginia.

Data

United States Of America Data Sheet

 

Population: 315 million

Major Religion/s: : Christianity

International dialling code: +1

International dialling prefix: 011

Emergency services: 911

Drives: Right

Voltage: 120V

Climate: Varies from humid continental in the north, humid subtropical in the south.

Other Major Cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia

Borders: Canada, Mexico


Mobile Networks:

Orange: AT&T, Cincinnati Bell, Nextel, T-Mobile USA

Vodafone: AT&T, Cincinnati Bell, Suncom, T-Mobile USA

02: AT&T, T-Mobile USA

T-Mobile: AT&T, Cincinnati Bell, Nextel, Suncom, T-Mobile USA, Viaero Wireless

 

For more information visit:

 

Orange:

http://business.orange.co.uk/home/soletrader/plans/roaming-and-international-plans/international-cost-checker

 

Vodafone:

 http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=templateCClamp&pageID=OS_1110

 

O2:

 http://www.o2international.co.uk/

 

T-Mobile:

 http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/going-abroad/

Journalists Under Attack

Journalists Under Attack

Media Safety

Media Safety

Security News

Security News