When a hurricane approaches, colleges and universities in the storm’s track must take action to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and faculty. Many students and parents find themselves in a particularly difficult situation. Many students are living on campus and away from home for the first time.
College and university campuses have emergency weather protocols, detailing what employees are required to report to work, what resources are offered for students and which campus facilities remain open. Location from the eye of the storm typically determines if a school should be evacuated. If the school does not evacuate, it still does not mean students should not prepare for power outages and days inside their dorms.
Although time stuck inside the dorms is not ideal, neither is evacuating from school. If there is enough time, buses, flights and driving remain efficient ways of evacuating from an area. As the storm gets closer, however, evacuation becomes more difficult.
For students far from home, many colleges and universities will offer evacuation assistance, whether that is arranging for or providing transportation from the area. It is extremely important to remain aware of continual changes in weather patterns and to be checking updates so that anyone in need of evacuation assistance can receive it.
With an impending hurricane, students should take these necessary steps to prepare themselves ahead of any evacuation orders:
For more safety and preparedness tips, click here to visit our storm readiness page.
