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Click
here for current Hurricane Information
Severe
Weather Hotline 1-888-657-5751
Following
Hurricane Floyd in September 1999, the University administration
undertook a thorough review of policies related to hurricanes.
In an effort to make the policies concerning class cancellation,
campus closure, and campus re-opening as clear as possible,
the senior administration adopted the following policy. This
revised policy addresses these concerns and those raised by
regional emergency management officials.
Phase 1: Hurricane Watch
(typically several days before a storm is to arrive).
Following the announcement of a hurricane watch by the National
Weather Service or whenever a tropical system threatens the North
Carolina coast, all faculty, staff and students are put on notice
to be alert and stay tuned to the Severe Weather Hotline and
UNCW Hurricane Web site. They should also begin making
arrangements on what to do if classes are cancelled and an evacuation
is ordered. Faculty are advised to make future class assignments
clear during the hurricane watch period in the event that classes
are subsequently cancelled.
Phase 2: Hurricane Warning
(typically 24-36 hours before 40 mph winds arrive).
Once a hurricane warning has been posted by the National Weather
Service for Wilmington, an announcement concerning the status
of classes will be made following a consultation among
the Provost, Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs and
Emergency Management staff. This campus announcement will be placed
on the Severe Weather Hotline and UNCW Hurricane Web site as well
as sent to local media. Based on storm size, speed, and rainfall
variables, the Provost may choose to issue a voluntary campus evacuation
when New Hanover County issues a voluntary evacuation of the beaches.
If appropriate, the announcement will have details on
exactly when classes are cancelled and will also call
for a voluntary evacuation by the students. If a voluntary
evacuation order is issued, all class assignments and attendance
policies will be suspended immediately.
Note:
Faculty and staff will continue to work, and the campus will remain
accessible until a mandatory evacuation is ordered.
Phase
3: Mandatory Evacuation
(typically in daylight about 8-12 hours before 40 mph winds arrive
on shore). The mandatory evacuation
of UNCW will be ordered, as in the past, with the mandatory
evacuation of the beaches in New Hanover County. However,
UNCW retains the option to declare a mandatory evacuation
prior to an order by the county if necessary to provide for
the maximum safety of students and employees. Once a
mandatory evacuation order has been given, all activities
on campus will cease immediately and faculty and staff will prepare
their areas for shutdown and leave the campus. The residence
halls will be closed, and all resident students will evacuate
within 2 to 3 hours. The campus will remain closed until
details are posted on the Severe Weather Hotline (1-888-657-5751),
or the news media as to when the university will reopen the residence
halls and resume classes.
Questions concerning this procedure should be addressed to
Dr. Paul Hosier for all faculty,
Pat Leonard for all
students, and Sharon Boyd for
staff and others.
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