I especially like the last paragraph:
U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad,” which includes valuable security information for those living and traveling abroad. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain the latest information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
A. Don't bother calling on weekends or Holidays.
B. Stranded by your State Department in a hell-hole of blood-thirsty Jihadis? There's an app for that.
Much of the time, you can not believe what these clowns are saying. There are usually travel warnings about Mindanao, in the Philippines, but I have traveled around the island a lot, and never had a problem. Certainly, there are some places to avoid, but much of their pontificating is false. Maybe the best thing to do, is stay completely away from the Middle East.