ARLINGTON CAMPUS, JU DOWNTOWN "ALL CLEAR" AS OF NOON, SEPT. 30
Final Update on Hurricane Ian
As of 5:00 this morning, Hurricane Ian was 120 miles east-northeast of Mayport and moving north-northeast at 9 miles per hour. Our area is no longer under a Tropical Storm Warning or Hurricane Watch, as the tropical-storm-force wind field has moved off the coast. Today, we can expect lingering, gradually dissipating wind with occasional gusts.
Storm surge will remain an issue along the coast through the next high tide, but the St. Johns River will continue to experience storm surge through the coming week as the tides and rainwater that have collected in central Florida slowly move north.
Rip currents will continue to be a powerful threat for a few days. Please avoid coastal waters for a while longer.
Impact to Campus
Our main Arlington campus is in good condition. There is a lot of loose debris around campus, and cleanup is underway already.
Several trees were impacted; they’ve either fallen, or they are significantly leaning. Please steer clear of down or leaning trees. Avoid DuPont Plaza between Gooding and Council, in particular, as there is one large oak tree that has fallen and is hung up on another oak tree. Also, the main exit to Merrill Road is closed for the time being; please exit campus by Terry Concert Hall.
Any students who are interested in getting outside and helping with cleanup may gather at the Dolphin Statues at 1:00 p.m. today. We would welcome your help collecting the loose debris into large piles close to the sidewalks to make it easier for our cleanup crews to remove.
Reopening Campus
The Arlington campus will be ‘all clear’ at 12:00 p.m. today. Any students who left campus for the storm may begin to return at that time, and students can begin to move around campus more freely. Please continue to exercise caution while cleanup is underway.
Other notes for the main Arlington campus:
- If you moved your car to higher ground for the storm, please return it to your regular assigned parking area this weekend. Campus Security will resume ticketing for incorrect parking locations on Monday.
- Lunch and dinner will be served in the Riverview Dining Hall today. Lunch hours are 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner service will be 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dining will resume business as usual tomorrow.
- Wurn Pool will remain closed through the weekend and should reopen Monday.
- Nimnicht Fitness Center resumes weekend hours beginning Saturday.
JU Downtown and College of Law will also be ‘all clear’ at 12:00 p.m. noon today.
Palm Coast students: your facilities have not been cleared yet. Your program directors will follow up with you directly when the ‘all clear’ for Palm Coast is given.
Faculty and Staff: Work Orders
If you need to place a work order related to storm damage, please use ‘A Hurricane Ian’ in the dropdown to help our Facilities team track requests related specifically to the hurricane. Please also photograph any damage, and keep damaged items to help expedite the claims process. If you have questions, please contact Beverly Reid (breid3@ju.edu).
In Closing
This will be the Emergency Preparedness Team’s final update regarding Hurricane Ian. We thank you for your care and attention this week.
Sept. 29, 9:57 a.m.
Tropical Storm Ian made landfall last night in southwest Florida as a powerful category 4 hurricane and, while crossing the Florida peninsula, deteriorated to tropical storm status.
The forecast for our immediate area has improved given the storm’s updated expected path, which takes it back into the Atlantic Ocean and to our east, off shore. In Jacksonville, we are expecting a day of wind gusts and fairly constant rain. Areas south of us, including those where our Palm Coast students and colleagues live, are likely to experience more severe conditions than we will in Jacksonville.
It is important that you continue to stay indoors. There may be times today when the weather outside your window doesn’t look too bad, but please refrain from venturing out, especially off campus. Throughout the Jacksonville area, there are trees down, power outages, and localized flooding that will only increase as Tropical Storm Ian continues moving northward. There is also still a possibility that the bridges in Jacksonville could close if winds increase to more than 40 miles per hour for a full minute or longer.
Based on the current forecast, we do not expect to need to relocate dining, but, if conditions deteriorate to such an extent that it is unsafe for you to move between the residence halls and Riverview Dining Hall, we will update dining options on campus. Please continue to monitor your JU email and follow @jureslife on Instagram.
Please stay safe, and remain alert for any urgent emergency updates.
Reminder: Closed Campus
At this time, all non-essential facilities are closed until the storm has passed and the “all-clear” has been given. This means that all facilities other than residence halls and dining facilities are locked down until the ‘all clear’ is given after the storm has passed. Security and facilities personnel cannot let you into other spaces on campus until that time.
Next Update
The Emergency Preparedness Team will provide a new update late this afternoon to share the latest forecast and update you on any potential impacts to our area.
Sept. 28, 2:49 p.m. update
As of 12:30 p.m., the forecast for Hurricane Ian indicates that our area is still expecting tropical storm conditions, likely beginning tonight and continuing through tomorrow and into Friday morning.
Students to Stay in Assigned Spaces
Given the latest forecast of tropical storm conditions, all students sheltering on campus will stay in their assigned residence halls for the duration of the storm. This decision is based on the best available data of what we can expect over the next 48 hours. We will continue to stay in close contact with the National Weather Service and will make any adjustments necessary to prioritize the safety of our students if the forecast alters dramatically. Just in case, students should remain alert and prepared to relocate if necessary. Please continue to monitor your email, keep devices charged, and keep notifications on.
Finish Preparations Now
Please plan to complete any errands or preparations you need to do by this evening. Conditions will begin to deteriorate, and even small bands of severe weather can arise quickly and without much warning. After sunset, things will become even more dangerous, as hazards like floodwaters can be hard to spot in the dark. The best thing you can do to stay safe is to finish your preparations now, get to your planned safe space, and hunker down until the storm passes.
Next Update
Barring any emergencies in the meantime, the Emergency Preparedness Team will send its next update tomorrow morning (Thursday).
Sept. 28, 10:38 a.m. update
We remain under a Tropical Storm Warning. Since our last communication, Hurricane Ian’s projected path has changed slightly to take the center of the storm offshore and just past Jacksonville to the east of the city. This is a positive scenario for us, but it is still too early to have much confidence about the potential severity of the impacts to our area. We are still expecting heavy rainfall, strong winds, and localized flooding throughout our area.
Recommendations
If you haven’t already, take time today to get to the grocery store and stock up on snacks and essentials. Grab things that don’t require electricity (refrigerators, microwaves, etc.) to tide you over if the power goes out. Riverview Dining Hall will continue to serve meals, but it’s always good to have snacks on hand.
Some great hurricane snack options:
- Peanut butter
- Canned tuna or canned chicken
- Apples
- Trail mix
- Dried fruit
- Nuts
- Cereal
- Granola
- Fruit cups
- Cookies
- Rice cakes
- Raisins
- Beef jerky
- Chips
- Crackers
- Pop-tarts
- Little Debbie snack cakes
Grab some drinks you don’t mind consuming at room temperature, too. Bottled water is a must, of course, but other options might be sports drinks, juice pouches or boxes, etc.
Remember: our Dry (alcohol-free) Campus policies are in effect until the ‘all clear’ is given. We implement this policy during situations like this because it’s more difficult for emergency services to reach us during a severe weather event, and because it’s important that you have the ability to think clearly in the event of a more serious threat like a tornado warning.
If conditions deteriorate to such an extent that it is unsafe for you to move between the residence halls and Riverview Dining Hall, we will update dining options on campus. Please continue to monitor your JU email and follow @jureslife on Instagram.
Reminder: Closed Campus
At this time, all non-essential facilities are closed until the storm has passed and the “all-clear” has been given. This means that all facilities other than residence halls and dining facilities are locked down until the ‘all clear’ is given after the storm has passed. Security and facilities personnel cannot let you into other spaces on campus until that time.
Next Update
The Emergency Preparedness Team will provide a new update this afternoon to share the latest forecast, update you on potential impacts to our area, and let you know of any decisions we may make to consolidate parts of campus. Our goal is to make a determination about the latter by this afternoon.
Sept. 27, 3:26 p.m. update
As of 12:30 p.m., our area is under a Tropical Storm Warning, which means that tropical storm conditions are expected in the area within the next 36 hours, as well as a Storm Surge Warning and a Flood Watch.
The forecast calls for heavy rainfall to begin tomorrow (Wednesday) and continue through Friday. Winds will pick up and worsen tomorrow with the potential for powerful gusts increasing late Wednesday/early Thursday. There is a possibility our area will see hurricane-force wind gusts on Thursday. As with any tropical system, there is also an increased threat of tornadoes accompanying the storm as it moves through the area. As the weather deteriorates, it’s best to stay home and avoid driving.
Important reminders for students
- Tell us your plans for the duration of the storm using the form at www.ju.edu/rollcall.
- Although we are confident in our ability to provide a safe place for all our residents to ride out the storm, we ask you to please leave campus if you have the ability to do so safely.
- Your professors will address makeup instruction, assignments, etc., with you on a class-by-class basis. If you have questions about an existing assignment or deadline, please contact your professor directly.
- Make sure your phone:
- Is set to receive emergency notifications.
- Does not have ‘Do Not Disturb’ turned on.
- Is charged and set to preserve battery power.
Move your car to the Oak Hall parking garage (Lot K), the high ground of River Road (near Oak and Botts), the Gooding parking lot, or lots A, B, C or O. Do not park under or near trees.
Safety Tips
Going to the beach / Water recreation
We strongly recommend that our students avoid water recreation this week and through the weekend. This is especially important at the beach, where rough surf and dangerous rip currents are already a threat, even before we begin to experience inclement weather from the hurricane. Please, if you plan to go to the beach, stay out of the water, both for your safety and for the safety of the emergency responders. Powerful waves and rip currents can be a grave danger even to the most experienced swimmers.
Flood safety
Stay away from flood waters. Do not walk through or drive across standing water. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off of your feet, and most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. Use special caution at night because flood danger is more difficult to recognize in darkness.
Tornado safety
As with any tropical weather, tornadoes are a possibility. Each building has different instructions for residents in the event of a tornado warning. There will be signs throughout the building you’re staying in; please familiarize yourself with the instructions that apply to your building. RA staff will be familiar with the procedure, too.
Additional Tips
- Refill your prescription medications to ensure you have enough to get you through the next week.
- Do your laundry (you don’t want to be stuck in dirty clothes!).
- Shut and lock your windows.
- If you’re on the ground floor, unplug and move everything you don’t need in case of flooding.
- Lock up any valuables in a drawer/storage box.
- Fill up your gas tank if you have a car on campus.
- If you have a refrigerator, clean out any perishable items.
Next Update
The Emergency Preparedness Team will be closely monitoring the storm's progress throughout the coming days, and we will post updates as new information regarding the storm's impact on us becomes available.
In the event of an emergency, notifications and alerts will be broadcast immediately via a combination of any of the following communication channels:
- Text alerts (make sure your phone number is up to date in My JU)
- Website
- JU Mobile Safety App
- Electronic on-campus signage
- JU Social Media channels
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleUniversity
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/JUNewsroom
Sept. 26, 4:12 p.m. update:
All Campuses Closing Wednesday, Sept. 28
Based on recent forecasts and our communication with local authorities, the Governor’s Office, and the National Weather Service, all campuses of Jacksonville University will be closed Wednesday, September 28, through Friday, September 30. All classes, activities, and events are canceled, and administrative offices will be closed during this time. The Emergency Preparedness Team will continue to meet, and staff members with Residential Life, Campus Security, Dining, and Physical Plant will remain on site at the main campus.
Updates on Ian
As of 1:15 p.m., Category 1 Hurricane Ian was about 675 miles SSW of Jacksonville, Florida. The most recent forecasts predict that the storm will rapidly intensify before approaching the Gulf Coast of Florida sometime Wednesday. Ian’s path has wobbled over the last several hours, shifting west and then east, and the exact track will greatly influence the extent and severity of the weather we can expect here in Jacksonville.
Probabilities are increasing that the Jacksonville area will experience some degree of tropical storm conditions as early as Wednesday, with the most significant rain and wind arriving that night and continuing through Thursday and into Friday. Localized flooding is a strong possibility throughout Jacksonville, especially given the elevated tides this week. Heavy winds are also possible, especially along the waterways.
Academic Coursework
Because of the likelihood of power outages associated with the storm, we are canceling classes for these three days rather than transitioning to remote or asynchronous coursework.
Students, your professors will address makeup instruction, assignments, etc., with you on a class-by-class basis as needed.
Regarding Voluntary Evacuations
Although the local authorities have not issued an evacuation order, we recognize that many of our students come from outside of Florida. We want to provide as much time as possible for those who choose to leave to travel safely to their destinations before and after the storm.
As in past tropical weather events, we are fully prepared under the current forecast weather conditions to safely house students on campus. We have resources and infrastructure on campus that make this one of the safest places our students and residential staff can be, including generators for food storage and plumbing, stores of food to get us through several days, backup water, active campus security, and on-duty physical plant staff for emergencies.
As with past storms, should conditions call for it, we will relocate residents of North Hall and Village Apartments to the residence halls on the south side of campus: Oak, Williams, and Botts.
This relocation would be for convenience and access to dining, medical care, ingress and egress to campus, and for the safety of our students and staff who would otherwise have to traverse the campus during a significant weather and rain event. Based on current forecasts, we do not anticipate this being necessary; however, we are prepared for the possibility if circumstances change. We will make this decision by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
If you choose to leave…
- You are required to complete this form before leaving so the University knows where you are going and has current contact information for you. Please also let your family know your plans.
- If you are leaving your car on campus, please move your car to the Oak Hall parking garage (Lot K), high ground on River Road (near Oak and Botts), and, if necessary, the Gooding parking lot. Do not park your car under or near trees.
If you are remaining on campus…
If you are staying, we are fully prepared to safely care for you on campus. North and Village Apartment residents should be prepared, should conditions call for it, to relocate to Oak, Botts, and Williams Hall.
- You are required to complete this form so the University knows you plan to stay on campus. Please also let your family know your plans.
- Anyone remaining on campus should plan to move their car to the Oak Hall parking garage (Lot K), high ground on River Road (near Oak and Botts), and, if necessary, the Gooding parking lot. Do not park your car under or near trees.
- If you plan to stay on campus, the campus gates will close Wednesday evening as the weather increases. We will ask students to remain on campus rather than venturing off. Please plan accordingly if you are planning to stay.
Reminders for All
Today and tomorrow, local members of the JU community should:
- Get cash. If the power goes out -- and stays out even after storm passes -- ATMs and card readers will not be available. It’s a good idea to have a bit of cash on hand, just in case.
- Fill up the gas tank in your car. Again, if our area experiences extended power outages, fuel pumps will not be available.
- Charge your phone. Emergency alerts, like tornado warnings, will be sent via text message. Please turn off any ‘Do Not Disturb’ functionality your phone has, and turn up the volume so you get those notifications.
Next Update
The Emergency Preparedness Team will be closely monitoring the storm's progress throughout the coming days, and we will post updates as new information regarding the storm's impact on us becomes available.
In the event of an emergency, notifications and alerts will be broadcast immediately via a combination of any of the following communication channels:
- Text alerts (make sure your phone number is up to date in My JU)
- Website
- JU Mobile Safety App
- Electronic on-campus signage
- JU Social Media channels
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleUniversity
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/JUNewsroom
