Weather information
Sam Jones, chair of the Emergency Management Team, sent the following messages to the campus community. - Ed.
Oct. 2, 12:15 p.m.
Dear William & Mary community,
The Emergency Management Team continues to monitor the track of Hurricane Joaquin and met a short time ago to review the potential impact of weather to our region.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the forecast for the Williamsburg area has improved substantially since yesterday and the hurricane's track continues to trend east and well off the Virginia coastline. The NWS now projects no direct impact of the hurricane in Virginia, including our region, when it moves through the mid-Atlantic late Sunday night and Monday.
The Provost has decided to hold classes as normal this weekend and Monday. If the forecast changes, the EMT will notify campus through the mass notification system.
Dining services is operating under a normal schedule. In the event campus loses power, we will implement the modified weather schedule, which is posted at http://dining.wm.edu .
While the forecast has improved, we do expect heavy rain and some increased wind to continue today through the weekend. This means there could be some flooding in our area and there is a risk for downed trees or limbs and localized power loss due to saturated soil. Please use caution when traveling outside this weekend or walking on campus. If you notice any downed trees or power lines, please do not attempt to move and immediately contact William & Mary Police at 757-221-4596.
The university's Call Center will close at 5 p.m. today. The Call Center number is 757-221-1565.
The latest information will be posted at http://www.wm.edu and students, faculty and staff should also monitor campus email, local media and the W&M News Facebook and Twitter pages at http://www.facebook.com/wmnews and http://www.twitter.com/WMNews .
Be safe and do your best to stay dry.
Sam Jones, Chair
William & Mary Emergency Management Team
Oct. 1, 5:57 p.m.
Dear William & Mary community,
The Emergency Management Team continues to monitor the weather and the potential impact of Hurricane Joaquin.
According to the latest information from the National Weather Service, the track of the storm continues to move away from the Virginia coastline and we are anticipating heavy rain for the Williamsburg area.
William & Mary will be open on Friday and hold classes tomorrow on a normal schedule. Decisions about weekend events or classes beyond Friday have not been made. We will continue to monitor the storm and will update the community again on Friday.
As noted earlier, a Call Center is open for anyone with questions or having difficulty implementing their personal evacuation plans. It will be open until 11 p.m. tonight and from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday. The Call Center number is 757-221-1565.
All students, faculty and staff should also continue to monitor the university’s website at www.wm.edu, campus email and local media for updates. We will also provide storm updates as warranted via the university’s mass notification system and through the W&M News Facebook and Twitter pages at www.facebook.com/wmnews and www.twitter.com/WMNews.
Sam Jones, Chair
William & Mary Emergency Management Team
Oct. 1, 2:13 p.m.
Dear William & Mary community,
University leadership continues to monitor the weather and the potential impact of Hurricane Joaquin to the Williamsburg area.
A decision has not been made regarding classes or campus events. The latest information is posted on http://www.wm.edu/. We anticipate sending our next update message to campus this evening.
We have also opened a Call Center for anyone with questions. The Call Center will be open until 11 p.m. tonight and from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday. The Call Center number is 757-221-1565.
Sam Jones, Chair
Emergency Management Team
Oct. 1, 8:14 a.m.
Dear William & Mary community,
The Emergency Management Team continues to monitor weather conditions, including the potential impact of Hurricane Joaquin to the Williamsburg area.
The latest update from the National Weather Service indicates significant rain (up to 10 inches) and wind over the next five days. There is not a consensus on the hurricane’s path or potential impact for our region. At this time, we have not canceled any classes or weekend events but we are taking a number of actions to make sure the campus is secure and ready for the storm. You can also help and begin preparing for the storm and possible closures.
Below are checklists for students and faculty and staff. Please review immediately.
Students
- Review your personal emergency evacuation plan; verify availability of prearranged transportation and safe destination, and update your plan as necessary.
- Inform your Area Director if you are having trouble getting your personal emergency evacuation plan verified or if there are other problems with your plan.
- Contact your family and provide them with information about where you may be staying if the College announces a temporary closure (including telephone numbers and addresses).
- Refill prescription drugs.
- Prepare your vehicle for travel. Top off fuel, washer fluid and check systems. Stock emergency supplies in your vehicle: water, toiletries, toilet tissue, blankets, flashlight, first aid kit, and nonperishable food.
- Verify your route: be prepared to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if roads are closed.
- Back up the hard drive of your computer and store the backup files in a safe location.
Faculty/Staff
- Expedite or suspend work requiring access to computational systems.
- Develop contingency lesson plans to facilitate temporary cancellation of classes.
- Obtain from your Building Emergency Coordinator a supply of plastic sheeting and other materials that can be used to protect equipment from ceiling leaks.
- Verify personal emergency contact information in banner and in department listings.
- Back up the hard drive of your computer and store the backup files in a safe location
If there is a decision to close campus or evacuate, we will communicate this information through the university’s mass notification system. If you have not yet enrolled in the notification system, please do so here. In addition to campus email, text, landline and cell phone, you can also receive emergency messages by following the W&M News Facebook and W&M News Twitter pages.
The EMT will continue to monitor the progress of the storm systems and will update the campus community as necessary.
Sam Jones, Chair
William & Mary Emergency Management Team
Sept. 30, 4:31 p.m.
Dear William & Mary community,
The Emergency Management Team is closely monitoring current weather conditions, including the status of Hurricane Joaquin and the potential affect to our area.
The latest update from the National Weather Service does indicate we can expect two storm systems to bring significant rain (up to 10 inches) and wind to our area over the next five days. At this point, there is not a consensus on the hurricane’s path or potential impact for our region.
Given the forecast, the university has begun preparing campus. At this time, we have not canceled any weekend classes or events. As conditions warrant, we will revisit this decision . Since the path and strength of the storm could change over the next several days, this information remains precautionary only. For reference, here is the university’s policy on inclement weather.
Please also remember that William & Mary has a number of ways to communicate to the campus community during an emergency situation and it's important that you take an active role in staying informed. If you have not yet enrolled in the university’s mass notification system, please do so here. This link will take you directly to a log-in for your personal information page. In addition to campus email, text, landline and cell phone, you can also receive emergency messages by following the W&M News Facebook and W&M News Twitter pages.
The EMT will continue to monitor the progress of the storm systems and will update the campus community as necessary.
Sam Jones, Chair
William & Mary Emergency Management Team