Housing Hurricane Room Preparation

You will be responsible for gathering your own supplies and preparing for the storm. During the storm, the University may lose power or water. Conditions may be uncomfortable until amenities are restored. Please prepare accordingly with the recommendations below:

• Secure enough water for your consumption and use. It is recommended you have 2 gallons per person per day.

• Purchase non-perishable food items to have on hand should on campus not be available.

• Get a flashlight or battery powered lantern with extra batteries. In the event of a power outage, flashlights will not be provided to students. Candles are not permitted, as they are especially hazardous in inclement weather situations.

• If you would like to keep your phone or tablet charged when there is no power, we recommend purchasing a portable power bank. Please note that internet and cell phone service may be interrupted due to weather conditions.

• For students with balconies or patios, please remove all items and place inside your unit.

• Fill your vehicle gas tank (if applicable). If you have a vehicle but are not using it to travel to another destination, move and park your vehicle in an open parking lot area with the emergency brake set and in park.  Try to park away from trees and street signs.  All windows should be closed and the vehicle locked. Vehicles parked near the buildings, and not in an approved parking area, (i.e. motorcycles in bicycle racks, cars in loading zones) may be removed or towed at the owner’s expense.

• Please refer to the list below for tips on preparing your room for inclement weather.

For students in Housing, the following resources are available to you:

• Residence hall staff will continue to monitor the storm and are available in the event of an emergency. Staff will be reduced during this time, so please utilize the RA on Call number posted in your clubhouse to locate a staff member.

• Dining Commons (Statesboro) and The Galley (Armstrong) operating hours will be posted by Eagle Dining. Any changes to these hours will be listed on the Auxiliary Services website, and will be available on the Georgia Southern Weather Alert site.

• Facilities staff will be on hand to monitor the storm and the physical condition of the buildings.  If you see damage to a building please report it to the residence hall on call staff. Staff will be on hand to work on the issue once it is safe.

• In the event of a power outage, Georgia Power will be notified and all efforts will be made to restore power as quickly as possible.

• Please note, all University policies remain in effect during the closure. Students in University Housing will be held responsible for misconduct that occurs during the closure.

• Additionally, guests are not permitted during the time the campus is closed. Non-residents must vacate the building as indicated in email communication, and may not re-enter until the University has officially reopened.

For the safety and security of our students and that of our first response agencies, you are advised to stay indoors during inclement weather. Emergency response agencies may not be able to respond to your needs during severe weather conditions. Stay out of flooded areas, as they may be extremely dangerous (i.e. energized by downed power lines). Also be aware that tree limbs and trees may continue to fall after the storm has passed. Please do not leave the buildings until cleared by University Housing staff to do so.

Tornado/Flooding Information:

• The eastern side of a hurricane is known to create the potential for the threat of tornadoes in addition to the heavy winds and rain.

• In the event of a tornado warning, remaining residents on the first floor of exterior corridor buildings (Statesboro Campus – Freedom’s Landing, Southern Courtyard, Southern Pines, University Villas; Armstrong Campus – Compass Point, University Crossings) are expected to allow students from the higher level floors into their units. Students should seek shelter away from exterior walls and doors, as well as windows. As you plan for the storm, identify spaces within your unit to shelter in place.

• Students in interior corridor buildings should proceed to the first floor, close the fire doors within the hallway, and shelter in place away from exterior doors and windows.

• Although unlikely, in the event of flooding, residents on the higher level floors will be required to allow entry to students remaining on the first floor whose spaces are affected by flooding. Should flooding occur, contact the on call staff member for the building and seek shelter on the second floor or higher.

The main University Housing office will close when the University closure takes effect; however, staff will be on site and available to assist as needed. For more information about campus closures or for additional resources, please visit the following sites:

Georgia Southern Weather Alert: www.georgiasouthern.edu/alert

Georgia Emergency Management Agency: http://www.gema.ga.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Georgia Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.ga.gov/DS/Emergency/Hurricane

NOAA Doppler Radar: https://radar.weather.gov/

If you choose to leave campus or would like to further prepare your room for inclement weather, please utilize the following tips.  If you choose to remain on campus, please make sure you also utilize many of these tips in preparing for the storm’s impact.

• Pull all furniture, including beds, away from windows.

• Computers, TVs, stereo equipment, etc. should be raised off of the floor and placed in a closet/study area.  Please make sure all electronics are unplugged.

• Place all articles from the floor (shoes, rugs, clothes, boxes, suitcases, etc.) on closet shelves or in dresser drawers.

• Place all loose objects in drawers or closets. Paper, books, etc., should not be left on tops of dressers or desks or near windows.

• Close and lock all windows.

• If there are mini blinds in the room or apartment, lower them to the closed position if you live on the first floor.  If you live on the second floor or above, please raise them to the highest position (if departing).

• Turn lights off.

• Leave air conditioning set to AUTO at 72*.

• You are encouraged to take items of sentimental and monetary value (i.e. photos, keepsakes, electronics, jewelry, money) with you.

• Lock your door and take your key with you.

• Do not put tape on the window glass.

• Bring bicycles in from the outside and store in a bedroom. Should University Housing staff need to remove bicycles, they may be discarded.

• Do NOT store motorcycles, mopeds, or any other vehicle containing combustible fuel in or near University Housing facilities. These must be stored at an alternate location for safety purposes.

• Disconnect all unneeded appliances. Leave all major appliances plugged in (refrigerator, oven, microwave, washer, dryer, etc).

• With the possibility of losing power, you are encouraged to discard all perishable food items.  It is often helpful to place a towel around the bottom of your refrigerator to collect any water that may collect from ice melting and temperature changes. Place all non-perishable food items in cupboards.

• Please remove all trash from your room or apartment before leaving and dispose in the appropriate receptacles.

Before, during, and after a storm, you are encouraged to check the University’s website for updates and cancellation of classes and events. You should check the website for the date that classes will resume. The University will use email to notify you of cancellation of classes and reopening of the university. Tune into local news channels for notification of the university closing and date of reopening.