Hurricane Matthew
The Emergency Management Team sent the following updates to the campus community regarding Hurricane Matthew. - Ed.
Storm Impact
October 9, 2016, 4:04 pm
Dear William & Mary Community,
Hurricane Matthew came closer to Virginia than was forecast on Friday. Fortunately the impact of the storm in the Williamsburg area was less severe than in other parts of Hampton Roads. We did see more rain and higher wind than we anticipated. There have been reports of some water damage in campus buildings - we sent one student to the Days Inn last night due to water in their residence hall.
The water is subsiding and cleanup is underway. If you are on campus for Fall Break and are aware of any water damage that has not been addressed, please contact work control at x12270 or email at workor. If you see something that is a safety concern, you may also contact William & Mary Police x14596). Also, if you had any personal property damaged, those are claims that should be made through your own personal property insurance.
Scattered power outages were also reported across campus but all power has already been restored. We encourage students, faculty and staff to check the contents of any refrigerators when you return to campus.
Dining operations have not been affected and continue to run on the modified Fall Break schedule.
Again, we are thankful the storm was not more severe here and will continue to work diligently on clean-up. We appreciate the hard work of all staff on campus this weekend.
Sam Jones, chair
Emergency Management Team
Hurricane Matthew Update
October 7, 2016, 2:42 pm
The National Weather Service continues to forecast a less severe storm impact for Williamsburg and the Hampton Roads area. The storm's biggest impact is expected in our area on Sunday between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sustained winds in the Williamsburg area are forecast to be in the 18-20 mph range with gusts up to 30-35 mph. Rainfall accumulation of 3-4 inches is expected in some areas.
You may have seen in the news that the governor declared a State of Emergency for Virginia in relation to Hurricane Matthew. This State of Emergency is being declared to provide officials with the authority and resources to assist states expected to be more severely affected by the storm not because of anticipated impact in the state.
As you know, Fall Break begins after classes end today (Friday). Because of that break no classes are scheduled on Monday or Tuesday. Residence Halls will remain open and food service is on the break schedule (details online at dining.wm.edu).
If you are traveling along the southeast coast of the U.S. over the break, please be particularly mindful of the storm and its path. Additional hurricane safety tips from the National Hurricane Center are available online, http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/index.shtml.
Should anything change, we will update you via the university's Emergency Notification System, Rave. Otherwise, we'll see you back on campus for classes starting Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Sam Jones, chair
Emergency Management Team
Weather: Hurricane Matthew
October 5, 2016, 12:02 pm
William & Mary community:
The forecast for Hurricane Matthew has improved significantly since my last message, and the Williamsburg area is not currently expected to see a dangerous impact due to the storm. The latest reports show the hurricane moving along the coast of North Carolina on Sunday and Monday and then likely to sea.
The forecast for our region now calls for some rain and increased winds this weekend with gusts up to 30 miles per hour. Please remember, however, we are several days away from the storm and that forecast can change again. Please continue to make preparations for the storm and possible power outages. If you are leaving campus for fall break, please ensure that your windows are closed and locked and that all valuables are removed from the floor.
The EMT will continue to monitor the progress of the storm and update the campus community as necessary.
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 or need to update your contact information, please do so at: https://personalinfo.wm.edu/
Thank you for your attention as we prepare for the storm.
Sam Jones, Chair
William & Mary Emergency Management Team
Weather: Hurricane Matthew
October 4, 2016, 2:22 pm
Dear William & Mary Community:
The W&M Emergency Management Team is closely monitoring Hurricane Matthew, which made landfall in Haiti this morning.
According to the latest forecast, the storm is expected to move along the East Coast later this week and significantly impact Hampton Roads beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing into Monday. Heavy rains and sustained winds of more than 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 60 miles per hour are expected in the Williamsburg area. With these conditions, there is a good possibility of power outages.
We are aware that many students will be away from campus for fall break during this time, but some students are planning to remain at the university. For those planning to remain, we strongly encourage you to reconsider your plans and, if possible, make arrangements to stay somewhere out of the storm's path. The residence halls will remain open through fall break. However, please keep in mind that if the forecast changes and indicates the hurricane poses a greater threat to the area, the campus may be closed in advance of the storm. Students should review their Emergency Evacuation Plans and begin making arrangements to implement if the university closes.
The EMT will continue to monitor the progress of the storm and update the campus community as necessary.
In the meantime, please make personal preparations for the storm and possible power outages by reviewing these procedures from residence life:
https://www.wm.edu/offices/residencelife/documents/hurricane.pdf
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 at: https://personalinfo.wm.edu/
Thank you for your attention as we prepare for the storm.
Sam Jones, Chair
William & Mary Emergency Management Team