All Clear Given for Normal Operations: Campus to Reopen Monday

2:15 p.m. Sunday, August 28

Hurricane Irene has passed, and campus cleanup efforts are underway. Faculty and staff may return to their offices on Monday, August 29, when the University resumes normal operations. All employees should report at their regularly scheduled times. Residence halls will now open at 8 a.m. to accommodate early arrivals. Classes have been canceled for Monday and Tuesday, August 29-30.

Move-in for new students, originally scheduled on Thursday-Friday, August 25-26, including freshmen who left their belongings at SU on Thursday, is now Monday, August 29, beginning at 8 a.m. Move-in for returning students, originally scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, August 27-28, is Tuesday, August 30, also beginning at 8 a.m. The Office of Housing and Residence Life has issued detailed information for all students at www.salisbury.edu/housing. Please expect traffic congestion on and near campus, especially Route 13, during the delayed move-in process.

The Office of Student Affairs will distribute information on the revised schedule of New Student Orientation and Welcome Week activities to SU student e-mail accounts.

Students from areas experiencing a greater impact from the hurricane are urged to use all caution or delay traveling to campus, if roads or other conditions remain hazardous.

Safety remains the highest priority. This Web site will continue to produce updates as more information becomes available.

3 p.m. Saturday, August 27

In preparation for the effects of Hurricane Irene, the City of Salisbury has issued a Declaration of Civil Emergency.  A general curfew has been issued throughout the City until 7 p.m. Sunday, August 28. A curfew means a prohibition against any person or persons walking, running, loitering, standing, remaining or motoring upon any alley, street, highway, public property or vacant premises within the corporate limits of the City, except persons officially designated to duty with reference to such civil emergency.
 
Salisbury University essential personnel are advised that they are exempted from the prohibition from travel on City streets, when they do so for bona fide University business.  Any essential personnel stopped by law enforcement officials should be prepared to present University staff credentials.
 
11:25 a.m. Saturday, August 27

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Tornado Watch 811 until 8 p.m. EDT which replaces a portion of Tornado Watch 810. The new watch is valid for the three counties in the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland: Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester.  Please stay tuned to local media for updates.

10:40 a.m. Saturday, August 27

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a tornado watch for Wicomico County and surrounding areas until 11 a.m.

The watch is issued when the conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. Remain alert. Please monitor the media for future reports.

4 p.m. Friday, August 26

The Salisbury campus and the Eastern Shore continue to prepare for Hurricane Irene. Classes for Monday and Tuesday, August 29-30, have been canceled. All other information from recent campus alerts is still in effect.

A state of emergency has been declared for Wicomico County. Evacuations have been urged for low-lying sections of the county, including portions of the City of Salisbury. The county has established a “Hurricane Hotline” for hurricane-related information. That number is 410-548-9452. An interactive map of evacuation areas in the county is available at http://gis.wicomicocounty.org/HurricaneEvac/default.aspx. The Red Cross has opened a pet-friendly shelter at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.

A state of emergency also has been declared for Maryland and surrounding states. Mandatory evacuations have begun from Ocean City and other coastal resorts. Annapolis and Baltimore are distributing sandbags. Traffic is expected to be heavy along major evacuation routes.

According to the National Weather Service, our area is currently under a hurricane warning and a flood watch. 

The University closes at 5 p.m. today. Please utilize all safety precautions for yourself, your family and friends relating to Hurricane Irene. Continue to monitor the media, this Web site and campus e-mails for the latest information.

Noon Friday, August 26

SALISBURY, MD---Classes have been canceled for Monday and Tuesday, August 29-30, due to move-ins delayed by Hurricane Irene and the uncertainty surrounding its aftermath. The safety of SU’s students, faculty and staff remains the highest priority.

The University will continue to provide updates on campus operations on its Web site, www.salisbury.edu, as more information becomes available.

6 p.m. Thursday, August 25

SALISBURY, MD---According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Hurricane Irene’s effects are expected to be felt locally starting Saturday afternoon, with increased winds and heavy rain. The hurricane is currently forecasted to directly impact the Delmarva Peninsula Saturday evening into Sunday morning with winds up to 100 mph and rain that could lead to coastal and inland flooding.

All information from SU’s 11 a.m. alert is still in effect. The campus will close at 5 p.m. Friday, August 26.

Faculty and staff are asked to turn off computers, lights and other equipment when leaving Friday. As a safety precaution, electrical or valuable items should be moved off the floor and away from windows, if the area is subject to flooding. Faculty and staff should not return to offices until University officials give the all-clear following the storm.

Faculty, staff and students are asked to continue to monitor the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu, SU e-mail and local media. The SU Gull Line at 410-546-6426 will also provide information. In the event the SU Web site goes down, information may be found on the University’s external emergency Web site at www.suemergency.net and the SU Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SalisburyUniversity/122620361558.

SU will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

11 a.m. Thursday, August 25

The most up-to-date forecast for Hurricane Irene suggests the likelihood of hurricane conditions in our area this weekend. As the University makes decisions regarding its operations, the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors must be the highest priority. SU is working with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Wicomico County Emergency Services to monitor the storm closely. Please continue to check the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu for updates and listen to local news reports for the latest information on Hurricane Irene. Please read this entire message for details on how it will impact you.

STUDENTS

Students Moving in Thursday and Friday
New students moving in Thursday are asked to drop their belongings off and return home. If, for safety reasons, they cannot come to campus today, move-in is tentatively rescheduled for Monday, August 29. Students scheduled to move in on Friday, August 26, also are tentatively rescheduled for Monday.

Students Moving in Over the Weekend
Move-ins scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been postponed until Tuesday, August 30.

Students Already in Salisbury
Students, both on and off campus, who have already arrived at Salisbury are encouraged to return home prior to the storm’s arrival. Residence halls will close on Thursday at 5 p.m., but we encourage you to leave sooner. Closely monitor the University’s Web site at www.salisbury.edu for further detailed information. Please remember that evacuation routes off the peninsula are limited, and many vacationers visit the area this time of year. Give yourself plenty of time to leave the area prior to the storm’s anticipated arrival.

International Students and Other Students Currently in Residence Halls Without the Means to Leave the Area
The University will assist with finding shelter/accommodations for these students, including the provision of food as necessary. This service is for students who legitimately do not have an alternative shelter option once the residence halls close. If you fall into this category, contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life at 410-543-6040 for more information.

Communications
Students are reminded to inform their parents where they will be staying during the storm if they do not return home. Please be sure to provide your family with contact information.

FACULTY AND STAFF

The University will close at 5 p.m. Friday, August 26. The Friday evening shift will report as normal. Supervisors may grant liberal leave for employees needing to make personal preparations in advance of Hurricane Irene. Liberal leave means that an employee must use his or her leave time, and it is granted at the supervisor’s discretion. All offices, however, must have coverage.

Essential personnel are required to report to work, as directed by their supervisor. Employees should check with their supervisor to determine if they are considered essential personnel. Essential staff who are expected to be at work are asked to work with their supervisor to assist with family and/or relocation concerns. It may be advisable for essential personnel to park their vehicles in the parking garage.

All faculty and staff should monitor the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu, SU e-mail and local media for information regarding when University offices will reopen following the storm.

CAMPUS CLASSES AND EVENTS

Orientation and Welcome Week activities through Sunday, August 28, including Fall Convocation, have been cancelled or postponed. All other campus activities will cease at 5 p.m. Friday, and the campus will be closed Saturday and Sunday. Monday classes have been cancelled. Classes will tentatively resume Tuesday. Please watch the SU Web site for information regarding the resumption of classes and events.

STORM PREPARATION
If the need to evacuate arises, emergency management officials recommend checking vehicles for adequate fuel and packing a to-go bag containing:

• Water and non-perishable food;
• A battery operated radio and batteries;
• A first aid kit;
• A flashlight;
• Maps;
• Important documents such as proof of residence, family pictures, insurance policies, and tax records;
• Comfortable clothing and blankets; and
• Unique family needs such as prescription medications, pet supplies or infant supplies.

Storm preparation resources are available online at:

http://www.salisbury.edu/police/emergency/Severe_Weather
http://www.personalsecurityplan.com/disaster-planning/natural-disasters/hurricanes.aspx
http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/pdf/hurricanebook.pdf
http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.mema.state.md.us/MEMA/index.jsp
http://www.wicomicocounty.org/ES/

The University will be providing regular updates, the next one at approximately 6 p.m. today.

6 p.m. Wednesday, August 24

SALISBURY, MD---According to the National Weather Service, the path of Hurricane Irene has not yet been fully determined, but still presents a threat to the Eastern Seaboard.

The earliest predicted impact of the hurricane is late Saturday. Move-In Day for new students, scheduled Thursday, August 25, therefore, will continue as planned. Weather patterns can change quickly, however. Depending on how conditions evolve, new students arriving Thursday may be asked to move their belongings into their rooms and then return home. If that becomes necessary, students will be notified early tomorrow afternoon via the SU Web site, residence hall front desks and campus e-mail.

Returning students planning to move in this weekend should continue to monitor the University Web site for possible schedule changes. Other students already on campus or in the community should be prepared to leave the area if conditions warrant.

Salisbury University is working with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Wicomico County Emergency Services to monitor the storm closely. Please continue to check the SU Web site for updates and listen to local news reports for the latest information on Hurricane Irene. The University will be providing regular updates. The next one will be issued at approximately 9 a.m. tomorrow.

9 a.m. Wednesday, August 24

SALISBURY, MD---According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Salisbury and Wicomico County may begin feeling the effects of Hurricane Irene on Saturday, August 27.

The storm has the potential of being significant, but given the uncertainty of its path, at this time new student arrival, move-in activities and classes remain as scheduled.

Salisbury University is working with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and Wicomico County Emergency Services to monitor the storm closely. Please continue to check the SU Web site for updates and listen to local news reports for the latest information on Hurricane Irene. We will be providing regular updates, the next one at 6 p.m. today.