Current Information – Rollins College Emergency Management

Sept. 12, Noon

Hurricane Irma – Update #11

Today the College has been active in the recovery process following Hurricane Irma, ensuring the safety of the campus community. Campus Safety and Facilities staff continue to survey minor damage to buildings and structures and remove debris.

The College is currently closed and will reopen Thursday, Sept. 14, when faculty and staff are asked to report. Crummer classes will resume Saturday, Sept. 16, and CLA and Holt classes will resume Monday, Sept. 18. Students are asked to return on Saturday and Sunday. If you are unable to make travel arrangements and you plan to arrive earlier than those days, we will certainly accommodate you.

Shelter operations will conclude today at noon. Food service will be provided at the Marketplace at the Cornell Campus Center through the weekend starting at noon today. All residence halls have passed a full safety review and assessment, and have power. R-cards will be reactivated for entry into rooms upon shelter closure. Olin Library will open at 1 p.m. today, please enter through the Orlando Hall or Cafe entrances. All other buildings will remain secured until campus reopens Thursday, Sept. 14.

Students with questions, concerns, or needs should contact Student Affairs at 407-646-2345, care@rollins.edu, or come to the Student Affairs office.

The Emergency Operation Center is currently demobilizing. As students return to residential halls and may see safety-related concerns, please report them as soon as possible to Campus Safety at 407-646-2999 or visit the Campus Safety office.

For those in the area, join us on Wednesday, Sept. 13 for Hurricane Irma Rollins SPARC Day. We invite our campus community and friends to lend a hand at 9 a.m. for campus clean-up efforts. Sign up to volunteer, alongside our facilities team, at https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/cizyx. You’ll receive a follow-up email with further details.

Staff, including faculty, should report to campus Thursday, Sept. 14. Please check with your supervisor if you are unsure if you are essential staff and need to return to campus earlier than Thursday.

Sunday, Sept. 17 join us for Rollins Life. Rollins Love. a welcome back celebration in the Campus Center. The College and Sodexo are planning a brunch and dinner, and we will provide more details about this event.

Please continue to monitor http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for the latest updates.

Thank you for your cooperation during this time. We will continue to do everything we can to have Rollins resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Sept. 11, 5 p.m. – Update #10

Today has been an assessment day for our Campus Safety and Facilities staff. The College has fared well during the storm, but tree limbs and power lines are currently being fully evaluated. It may look like things are fine, but we still have concerns about safety issues and the campus is not fully ready to be reoccupied.

The City of Winter Park has had significant power loss, with trees down and roads blocked. The shelter is currently open, and we ask that students remain in the shelter tonight and into tomorrow morning. We plan to conclude shelter operations at noon Tuesday, Sept. 12. Lunch at that time will be served at the Marketplace at Cornell Campus Center. Pending a full safety review and assessment that all residence halls have power, we will then reactivate R-card entry into rooms. Food service will be provided at the Marketplace at the Cornell Campus Center through the weekend starting at noon tomorrow.

Starting tomorrow at 8 a.m., students with questions, concerns, or needs should call 407-646-2345 or come to the Student Affairs office. You can also email care@rollins.edu.

On Wednesday, Sept. 13, we will be holding a campus clean-up post-hurricane SPARC day. More information will be forthcoming, but we invite you to come and take part in this volunteer campus community event.

Staff, including faculty, should report to campus Thursday. Please check with your supervisor if you are unsure if you are essential staff and need to return to campus earlier than Thursday.

We will also host a Sunday welcome back celebration in the Campus Center. The College and Sodexo are planning a brunch and dinner, and we will provide more details about this event.

Classes will resume on Monday, Sept. 18. We ask that students return on Saturday and Sunday. If you are unable to make travel arrangements and arrive earlier than those days, we will certainly accommodate you.

Please continue to monitor http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for the latest updates.

Thank you for your cooperation during this time. We will continue to do everything we can to have Rollins resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Sept. 11, 10 a.m. – Update #9:

The shelter at Bush Science Center remains safe and operational. All students and staff being sheltered there are safe and never lost power through the storm. We are still experiencing high winds in the area, and there continue to be risks and hazards outside of the shelter. Because of this, we are requiring students to remain in the shelter at this time. Our crews have begun damage assessments around campus.

Although the major threat is behind us, Rollins College’s emergency response to Hurricane Irma is continuing. Winter Park experienced the height of the storm around 2:30 a.m. We are appreciative of our Emergency Personnel who monitored the storm and kept us safe.

It is important that you continue to be vigilant and stay indoors until our campus safety personnel and local governments have issued an “all clear” directive. The curfew for Orange County remains in effect until 6 p.m. and may be extended.

At this time, there has been no decision regarding resuming classes. All campus activities have been cancelled until further notice. Please continue to monitor http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for the latest updates.

Thank you for your cooperation during this time. We will continue to do everything we can to have Rollins resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Sept. 10, 2:30 PM – Update #8:

The College is closed, and all classes and campus activities have been cancelled through at least Tuesday, September 12. Only emergency essential personnel should plan to report to campus Tuesday.

The College’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is fully operational and the College currently has power. Approximately 230 students, faculty and staff are sheltered for the duration of the storm in the Bush Science Center shelter.

We understand you may be concerned about our decision regarding re-opening campus. At this time, our priority is the safety of those who are sheltering on campus. Please know this is being discussed and we will continue to provide updates as we are able.

Please monitor your email and http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for updates to College services.

Sept. 9, 2:30 PM – Update #7:

The College is closed, and all classes and campus activities have been cancelled through at least Tuesday, September 12. Only emergency essential personnel should plan to report to campus Tuesday.

For those students on campus, the Cornell Campus Center will be open tonight, Saturday, September 9, from 5 – 7 p.m. for dinner.

Campus Student Shelter Information:

The College’s emergency shelter, Bush Science Center, will open Sunday, Sept. 10, at 8 a.m., and those staying in the shelter during the storm are required to be in place by Sunday at 10 a.m. Please monitor your email and http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for updates to College services.

To enter the shelter, it will be necessary for each individual to present an R-card.
If you are seeking a shelter, we encourage you to follow Orange County Emergency Communications or your local government to identify shelters open in your immediate area.
There will be a Counselor in the shelter.
The shelter will remain open and students will not be released from the shelter until power is restored on campus and the campus is deemed safe, after a damage assessment by Facilities Management.

The shelter will provide food for students:

Sunday brunch: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday dinner: 5 p.m.
Monday breakfast: 8 a.m.
Monday lunch: noon
Monday dinner: 5 p.m.

Items to bring to the shelter:

Pillow
Sleeping bag or blanket (no cots will be available)
Phone and charger
Change of clothes
Toiletries (toothbrush, etc.)
Medications (If these need to be refrigerated, please connect with a staff member during shelter check-in)
Books/laptops/things to pass the time
Flashlight
Reusable water bottle
No alcohol will be allowed in the shelter

Please note: No shower facilities are available at the shelter. We encourage everyone to shower before coming to the shelter.

Basic food services will be provided by Sodexo, however, feel free to bring your own favorite snacks to supplement what Sodexo will be providing. Please also consider bringing your own non-perishable food if you have special dietary needs.

Any animals brought to the shelter must be kept in a kennel or carrier and will be assigned to a single designated space, where they must remain unless they are being escorted outside to relieve themselves. Animals are not permitted to be in other areas of the shelter.

Please continue to monitor http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for updates regarding when campus will reopen after the storm.

Sept. 9, 2017, 3:00 p.m. – Update #6:

The College is closed, and all classes and campus activities have been cancelled through at least Tuesday, September 12.

All campus buildings will be closed Saturday, Sept. 9, and students still on campus will be required to remain in their residence hall.

Campus Student Shelter Information:

The College’s emergency shelter, Bush Science Center, will open Sunday, Sept. 10, at 8 a.m., and those staying in the shelter during the storm are required to be in place by Sunday at 10 a.m.

Please monitor your email and http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for updates to College services. The shelter will provide food for students:

Sunday brunch: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday dinner: 5 p.m.
Monday breakfast: 8 a.m.
Monday lunch: noon
Monday dinner: 5 p.m.

The College’s priority for sheltering is residential students, then CLA students who live off campus, and Holt and Crummer students. Faculty and staff not designated as emergency essential are not a part of our sheltering plan.

For your safety, once you are in the shelter, please do not plan to leave the building for any reason.

To enter the shelter, it will be necessary for each individual to present an R-card.
Orange County will open shelters beginning Saturday morning. Shelter locations will be announced as confirmed. Please check ocfl.net for the most recent information or call 311.
There will be a Counselor in the shelter.
The shelter will remain open until power is restored on campus and campus authorities have determined the campus is safe to occupy.

The College plans to begin damage assessment Monday afternoon. At that point, we will walk every building, checking for power and damage to buildings. Safety of the campus community is our top priority. We plan to keep the College closed Tuesday. Emergency essential staff are to report Tuesday morning.

The College’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be fully activated Sunday at 8 a.m.

Please continue to monitor your local government for information on any curfews, electricity updates, and other emergency communications.

Sept. 8, 2017, 8:30 a.m. – Update #5:

As most of you have probably seen, the track of Hurricane Irma has shifted slightly to the West in the last 24 hours and it is projected to make landfall in South Florida and come through the center of the state. If this track holds true, we can expect a category 2 level storm here early Monday morning, with some structural damage and power outages.

We will be moving up the time the shelter is going to open to 8:00 am-10:00 am on Sunday morning. Our hope is to add immediacy to folks that they need to get to a safe place and stay put until the storm has passed.

The Emergency Operations Center is going to be fully operational at 8:00 am on Sunday morning.

Sept. 7, 2017, 11 p.m. – Update #4:

Due to the late notice of Governor Scott’s decision to close all public and state schools tomorrow, we have decided to close the College tomorrow as well for all emergency non-essential personnel.

If you are unsure if you are classified as an emergency non-essential, please check with your supervisor.

Please take the time to get yourself and your families prepared for Hurricane Irma.

Sept. 7, 2017, 4 p.m. – Update #3:

Rollins College’s Emergency Management Team continues to monitor Hurricane Irma. We are making necessary preparations to ensure the safety of members of the Rollins community over the next several days.

All classes and campus activities have been cancelled for Friday, September 8. The College will close at 8 a.m. Saturday, September 9, and will remain closed at least through Monday, September 11.

The College’s Emergency Operations Center will be fully activated at noon Sunday.

Monitor your local government for information on any curfews, electricity updates, and other emergency communications.

Campus Shelter Information:

The College’s emergency shelter, Bush Science Center, will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday, September 10, and all students on campus will be required to relocate to the shelter by noon.
The College’s priority for sheltering is residential students, then CLA students who live off campus, and Holt and Crummer students. Faculty and staff not designated as emergency essential are not a part of our sheltering plan.
To enter the shelter, it will be necessary for each individual to present an R-card.
If you are seeking a shelter, we encourage you to follow Orange County Emergency Communications or your local government to identify shelters open in your immediate area.
There will be a Counselor in the shelter.
Students will not be released from the shelter until power is restored on campus and the campus is deemed safe, after a damage assessment by Facilities Management.

For those who plan to shelter at Rollins, please review the list of items you should bring with you:

Pillow
Sleeping bag or blanket (no cots will be available)
Phone and charger
Change of clothes
Toiletries (toothbrush, etc.)
Medications (If these need to be refrigerated, please connect with a staff member during shelter check-in)
Books/laptops/things to pass the time
Flashlight
Reusable water bottle.
No alcohol will be allowed in the shelter

Please note: No shower facilities are available at the shelter. We encourage everyone to shower before coming to the shelter.

Any animals brought to the shelter must be kept in a kennel or carrier and will be assigned to a single designated space. Animals must remain in their kennel or carrier in their designated space unless they are being escorted outside to relieve themselves. Animals are not permitted to be in other areas of the shelter.

Please continue to monitor http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for updates regarding when campus will be opened after the storm.

____________________________________________________________________

Sept. 6, 2017, 4 p.m. – Update #2:

We would like to provide an update about the College’s preparations for Hurricane Irma.

Rollins College’s Emergency Management Team continues to monitor Hurricane Irma. While it is still too early to predict the impact the storm will have on campus, we are making necessary preparations to ensure the safety of members of the Rollins community over the next several days.

We have made the decision to cancel all classes and campus activities on Friday, September 8. Additionally, the College will close at 8 a.m. Saturday, September 9, and will remain closed at least through Monday, September 11. At this point, we do not know how severe the storm will be, but we could be without power for several days the week of September 11. We will most likely experience hurricane force winds through Monday.

The College will close access to the parking garage on Thursday at 5 p.m. If you plan to leave your car, we ask that you move your car into the garage by then.

Students remaining on campus:

If you are still on campus on Saturday, September 9 at 8 a.m., all campus buildings will be closed and you will be required to remain in your residence hall. Please monitor your email and http://emergency.rollins.edu/ for updates to College services, including food. The College’s emergency shelter, Bush Science Center, will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday, September 10, and all students on campus will be required to relocate by noon. In order to enter the shelter, it will be necessary for you to present your R-card upon check-in.

We will issue more information regarding additional shelters in Orange County as it becomes available.

Sept. 5, 2017, 3:59 p.m. – Update #1:

Rollins is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Irma, which is currently a Category 5 storm heading toward the Caribbean. Governor Scott has declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida.

The track models of Irma continue to change and like all tropical weather systems, will continue to change as it progresses. For all official forecast and tracking information we rely on the National Hurricane Center for guidance.

Because the storm will likely affect our area, we have decided to cancel classes for all schools on Friday, September 8, for Holt and Crummer on Saturday, September 9, and for Crummer on Sunday, September 10. At this time, faculty and staff should plan to report to campus on Friday as usual. We will, however, continue to offer updates as the situation unfolds.

Students: If you have the means to go elsewhere in advance of the storm impacting Central Florida, we advise you to make plans to do so. We will be establishing a shelter to provide for those students remaining on campus; hours and location information will be forthcoming. Once the shelter opens, students remaining on campus will be required to report to the shelter and residence halls will be closed. We ask that all students and employees enter their information into the Hurricane Student Tracker by Friday at noon.

The College uses emergency.rollins.edu as the primary means of communicating during a time of emergency. As the direction and location of the storm become clearer over the next several days, you will find updates on the site, as well as on Rollins College Campus Safety social channels, including Facebook and Twitter.

Please take this time to review your hurricane checklists in the event this becomes a severe weather event for our area. A good hurricane safety kit should allow you to manage and sustain on your own for at least 72 hours and should include basic essentials like water, food, communication tools and flashlights.

Because your safety and well-being are our priority, we want you to have enough time to plan and be prepared. For more information on how to prepare, please visit http://www.ocfl.net/storm.

All Rollins College social media platforms will be used to communicate with the campus community, in the event actions need to be taken. Please check this page periodically.