Monday Classes Canceled
University closes as storm brings wind and rain
Hurricane Sandy approaches New Jersey, threatening much of the Northeast with heavy rains and high winds on Monday and causing class cancellations. Photo courtesy of NASA.gov
As Hurricane Sandy approaches New Jersey, threatening much of the Northeast with heavy rains and high winds on Monday, the University has canceled all classes and closed both the Charles River and Medical Campuses for all nonessential employees. This includes the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, the School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, and the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences. Daytime and evening classes have been canceled for Monday, following a request by Governor Deval Patrick that all high schools and colleges statewide close for the day. Current plans see the University reopening Tuesday, with a normal Tuesday class schedule in effect. University officials are consulting throughout the day with experts from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. Their decision concerning University operations on Tuesday will be posted on BU Today.
Because the impact of the storm is expected to peak this evening, Dining Services will deliver meals at 5 pm to the Residence Life Offices at Danielsen Hall, Myles Standish Hall, Shelton Hall, The Towers, and 518 Park Drive on South Campus. The meals will be available to students on the University dining plan. Dining halls will be open at 100 Bay State Road, Warren Towers, West Campus, and the George Sherman Union. Dinner at Hillel Dining Hall will be served from 4:30 to 6 pm. Small retail shops will be closed. Mugar Library will close at noon. Student Health Services will be open all day. FitRec will be closed until 3:30 pm, and may open late in the day. Follow @Fitrec on Twitter for updates. The BU Bus will not run. Mail will not be delivered and the Housing Office will be closed. The Dean of Students Office will be open. The GSU will be closed at 2 pm, and Extreme Pita, Warren Towers Late Night and Late Night Kitchen at 100 Bay State Road will be closed Monday night. The MBTA has announced that all service will be suspended as of 2 pm.
Essential services on the Medical Campus include, but are not limited to, Public Safety, Facilities Management, Emergency Patient Treatment, Office of Environmental Health and Safety, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and Mail Service. Medical students who are assigned to inpatient services are expected to be present, if possible. Students who are assigned to outpatient services should check with their course director or the policy at the clinical site. For updated information regarding the Medical Campus, call the emergency communications hotline at 617-638-6886 or visit the BUMC emergency communications website.
The National Weather Service expects the exceptionally wide and slow-moving storm to make landfall in New Jersey Monday evening, then follow a northward path through Pennsylvania and into upstate New York. Meteorologists warn that Monday will bring heavy rains to Boston, with winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour and gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. Winds will subside Monday night, and Tuesday will be rainy and warmer, with temperatures in the mid-60s and winds blowing about 25 miles per hour with gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.
Students are urged to make sure that they have flashlights and extra batteries on hand and are warned not to use candles, which are prohibited in student residences. For those who live in campus residences, RAs will have a limited number of flashlights. Students living off-campus are urged to buy flashlights and additional batteries. Emergency officials also urge people to have adequate supplies of food and water on hand, as well as essential medicines and a change of clothing. More information about hurricane preparedness is here.
David Zamojski, assistant dean of students and director of residence life, asks students to take precautionary steps to protect belongings from water damage. Zamojski recommends that students close and lock windows while it is raining, remove electronics and books from windowsills, bookshelves, and window walls, and take items off of the floor. Students whose property is damaged by water are asked to inform their local Residence Life office (hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 7 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week) or call the Facilities Management control desk at 617-353-2105. The control desk is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additional maintenance staff will be on duty throughout the storm to assist students.
The Boston University Police Department has put a Hurricane Incident Action Plan in place, and if necessary, will issue emergency alerts using the BU Alert System. Those alerts are sent via an email blast and banners on the University’s homepage, BU Today, and the BU Emergency page.
Facilities preparations have included a check of all roofs, coordination with NStar, removal of loose materials and small trash barrels, and the rental of two large-capacity generators and two large-capacity portable pumps. Tree removal services are on standby.
BU Today will be the main point of contact throughout the storm.
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