August 30, 2019
19-109
Jessica Pope
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Dr. Keith Warburg, Executive Director of the Office of Communications and Marketing
Hurricane Dorian: VSU Does Not Anticipate Any Closures, Event Cancellations (Update as of 9:15 a.m. Sept. 4)
(UPDATED as of 9:15 a.m. on Sept. 4)
After constant monitoring and communication with experts, we believe that, beginning this afternoon, wind gusts of 20 miles per hour will start to enter our area. Hurricane Dorian’s rain bands have weakened, leaving a real possibility that we will receive little to no rain during this event, according to public safety officials.
With this information, VSU is not canceling classes or suspending university operations or activities. Barring any significant change, this will be our last update for Hurricane Dorian.
If the storm affects your ability to come to campus due to evacuations, dangerous conditions, or other risks in your area, please notify your professors and/or supervisors to determine which accommodations may be most suited to your situation.
Students, faculty, and staff should continue to monitor weather reports, especially from the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency (@LowndesEMA on Facebook) and the National Weather Service National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC on Facebook).
VSU is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service-certified StormReady Campus. This means that VSU has the communication and safety tools necessary to help save lives during hazardous weather conditions. Nationally, only 5.6 percent of four-year degree-granting institutions of higher education hold this designation.
(UPDATED as of 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 2)
We are continuing to receive regular updates from VSU Public Safety and the National Weather Service regarding the projected path and impact of Hurricane Dorian, which has increased to a Category 5 hurricane.
The storm has slowed significantly and is now expected to affect our region in the daylight hours of Wednesday, Sept. 4, in the form of heavy rain, with a possibility of wind gusts in the range of 20-30 miles per hour.
At this time, we do not expect to cancel classes or suspend university operations or activities. We will monitor the storm with officials and provide another update tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 3.
If the storm affects your ability to return to campus due to evacuations, dangerous conditions, or other risks in your area, please notify your professors and/or supervisors to determine which accommodations may be most suited to your situation.
Should the weather situation change, any announcements about potential closures or event cancellations will be posted at www.valdosta.edu/news, on Facebook (@VStateNews and @ValdostaState), and Twitter (@VStateNews and @ValdostaState); shared with area news media; sent directly to students, faculty, and staff through the Campus Alert System via text message, voice call, and email; and sent directly to parents through the VSU Parent Portal.
Students, faculty, and staff should continue to monitor weather reports, especially from the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency (@LowndesEMA on Facebook) and the National Weather Service National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC on Facebook).
VSU is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service-certified StormReady Campus. This means that VSU has the communication and safety tools necessary to help save lives during hazardous weather conditions. Nationally, only 5.6 percent of four-year degree-granting institutions of higher education hold this designation.
(UPDATED as of 12:50 p.m. on Aug. 30)
After continuing to closely monitor Hurricane Dorian with experts, the university expects to remain open throughout the storm, including all scheduled events, operations, and classes. The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff are always our highest priority.
Students and employees traveling back to campus following the Labor Day weekend are encouraged to plan their return trip early to avoid heavy rains as the storm is projected to move into the region mid-week. Should the storm affect your individual ability to return to campus for class or work, please contact your instructor or supervisor directly.
Hurricane Dorian is currently expected to bring wind and heavy rain to the Valdosta-Lowndes County area for most of next week. Students, faculty, and staff should continue to monitor weather reports, especially from the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency (@LowndesEMA on Facebook) and the National Weather Service National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC on Facebook).
Should the weather situation change, any announcements about potential closures or event cancellations will be posted at www.valdosta.edu/news, on Facebook (@VStateNews and @ValdostaState) and Twitter (@VStateNews and @ValdostaState); shared with area news media; sent directly to students, faculty, and staff through the Campus Alert System via text message, voice call, and email; and sent directly to parents through the VSU Parent Portal.
Please note that VSU is closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in recognition of the Labor Day holiday. Please email communications@valdosta.edu if you have any questions.
VSU is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service-certified StormReady Campus. This means that VSU has the communication and safety tools necessary to help save lives during hazardous weather conditions. Nationally, only 5.6 percent of four-year degree-granting institutions of higher education hold this designation.
