Hurricane Sandy and EMU

Posted Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, 9:06 p.m.

At this point, the plan is for EMU in Harrisonburg to operate on a normal schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 30 since there are no major power outages in the area. The Crisis Management Preparedness Team will review the decision in the early morning on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and make an announcement by 7 a.m. if classes are cancelled.

Commuter students and nonessential faculty and staff should exercise appropriate caution and make prudent decisions based on their particular circumstances regarding travel to and from campus. Any absences due to storm-related conditions will be considered excused absences.

Prayers continue for people in areas harder hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Posted Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, 11:14 a.m.

EMU’s Crisis Management Preparedness Team continues to monitor Hurricane Sandy’s track and potential impact on the campus community.

Classes for the EMU Harrisonburg campus on Monday, Oct. 29 are cancelled effective 12:30 p.m. A decision about Tuesday classes will be made by 9 p.m.

In preparation for possible power outages, those who live on campus are encouraged to keep their mobile devices fully charged and have access to a working flashlight.

In the event that campus loses power for an extended period of time, keep in mind:

• Elmwood and Cedarwood will have generator back up power.
• University Commons and Maplewood will have limited backup generator power.
• Heating systems in other campus buildings will be offline and night time may be chilly. Get warm clothing and layers ready. If you don’t have access to warm clothing and blankets contact your CA or RD to assist you in getting needed supplies.
• As always, candles will not be permitted to be burned in residence halls, even if power is out.
• CAs and RDs will be your first line of communication and will be ready to assist you with any needs.
• The dining hall in Northlawn will continue to serve food during daylight hours in the event of a power failure. Food options may be limited. Your spirit of cooperation will be appreciated!
• Key cards would no longer work in residence hall doors. The main entrance of each building will be unlocked and covered by Residence Life staff. Please do not prop open any doors.

Find more information on emergency preparedness at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Posted Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, 10:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service is predicting severe weather for the Harrisonburg, Va., and Lancaster, Pa., areas as Hurricane Sandy approaches. High winds and heavy rains are predicted all day Monday and Tuesday, October 29 and 30, 2012.

EMU is planning to operate on a normal schedule on Monday. Changes to the university’s operating status will be communicated via the EMU campus alert system.

As with all inclement weather situations, commuter students and nonessential faculty and staff should exercise appropriate caution and make prudent decisions about travel to and from campus. Any absences due to storm-related conditions will be considered excused absences.

Emergency preparedness

During this severe weather, members of the Eastern Mennonite University community in Harrisonburg, Va., and Lancaster, Pa., are encouraged to:

• Follow the instructions of local and state officials.
• Listen to local radio and TV stations for updated emergency information.
• Remove items from exterior housing that may be affected by wind.
• Secure bikes in a safe location inside if possible.
• Close and secure all windows and sliding glass doors.
• Remove personal items from the floor, especially in basement apartments, in case of flooding.
• Do not drive or walk through floodwater. Drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths. Turn around and find another route if a road is flooded – it is almost always more dangerous than it appears.
• Have a flashlight and extra batteries in case the power goes out; fully charge your cell phone or laptop as a means of communication in case there is not power.

For more information on being prepared for an emergency, check out the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website: http://www.vaemergency.gov/ReadyVirginia

Campus communication

In the event of an emergency on campus in Harrisonburg, contact EMU Security at 540-432-4911. Off campus emergencies should be reported to the appropriate public safety agency by dialing 911.

Updates to EMU’s campus alert system will be posted periodically if there are any changes to the university’s operating status. Emergency alerts will be clearly posted on my.emu.edu, www.emu.edu and sent via text to those who have registered with the E2Campus alert system found at www.emu.edu/alerts