ODU Alert Regarding Hurricane Irene
With Hurricane Irene intensifying and the likelihood of impact on the Hampton Roads region, Old Dominion University will be closing its residence halls and the campus in the coming days. Please read this entire message for more details and how it will impact you.
The university's residence halls will be closed as of 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. The campus will close as of 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26. The start of classes has been pushed back until Tuesday, Aug. 30, pending the status of the campus and its facilities following the storm. This means that all classes scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27 and Monday, Aug. 29 are cancelled.
All students, faculty and staff should monitor the ODU web site at www.odu.edu, ODU email, local media, and/or alternate methods registered in the ODU Alerts system for additional details both before and after the storm. In the event the university's web site goes down, information can be found on the ODU Athletics web site at www.odusports.com.
RESIDENCE HALLS INFORMATION
For students moving-in: You will be permitted to drop off your belongings until Thursday evening, but you will not be permitted to occupy your room. If you choose to leave your belongings, you do so at your own risk, as the university cannot guarantee against damage from the storm, and you will be asked to sign a waiver assuming responsibility for damage. Anyone who does leave their belongings must keep items up off the floor and covered in plastic. Valuables and electronics should not be left in rooms.
For students already in the residence halls: You will need to vacate your room no later than 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. You may also leave your belongings in your room, but you do so at your own risk, as the university cannot guarantee against damage from the storm, and you will be asked to sign a waiver assuming responsibility for damage. Anyone who does leave their belongings must keep items up off the floor and covered in plastic. Valuables and electronics should not be left in rooms.
International and other students without an alternate place to shelter: The university will assist with finding shelter/accommodations for these students. This service is for students who legitimately do not have an alternative shelter option once the residence halls close. If you fall into this category, contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life for more information.
Transportation: The university will offer regular shuttle service on Thursday, Aug. 25 from the campus to the following locations:
Amtrak Train Station in Newport News, at 7 a.m. and Noon
Norfolk Airport, every hour on the hour from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Norfolk, every hour on the hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The shuttles will leave from the ground floor of Garage D, which is located between 45th and 46th Street behind the Springhill Suites Hotel. Upon return, students will have to supply their own mode of transportation back to campus.
Communication: Students are reminded to let their parents and families know where they will be sheltering during the storm, if they will not be returning home, and provide them with contact information.
Move-in day will be rescheduled to Monday, Aug. 29 for all residence hall residents, pending the status of the campus and its facilities following the storm. Should the campus suffer significant damage or experience power outages that make a Monday opening of residence halls impossible, the academic calendar will be adjusted as necessary to allow for sufficient time for move in.
Students should monitor the ODU web site at www.odu.edu, ODU email, local media, and/or alternate methods registered in the ODU Alerts system for additional details both before and after the storm. In the event the university's web site goes down, information can be found on the ODU Athletics web site at www.odusports.com.
FACULTY AND STAFF
The university will be open until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26. Supervisors may grant liberal leave for employees needing to make personal preparations in advance of Hurricane Irene. Liberal leave means that an employee must use his or her leave time, and it is granted at the supervisor's discretion. All offices, however, must have coverage.
Essential personnel are required to report to work, as directed by their supervisor. Employees should check with their supervisor today to determine if they are considered essential personnel.
All faculty and staff should monitor the ODU web site at www.odu.edu, ODU email, local media, and/or alternate methods registered in the ODU Alerts system for information on when university offices will reopen following the storm.
Faculty and staff should turn off computers, lights and other equipment when leaving Friday. Additionally, electrical or valuable items should be moved off the floor and away from windows. Researchers with labs and experiments dependent upon electrical power should ensure equipment is plugged into the outlets that are backed up by the building generators. If you are unsure of where those outlets are in your lab or have other questions or concerns about your work, please contact Facilities Management.
No faculty or staff member will be permitted to return to their office or lab until Facilities Management gives the all-clear following the storm. This may take some time as buildings need to be inspected and cleared individually.
EVENTS
All events scheduled for the ODU campus from 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 through such time as when the campus reopens are cancelled.
PARKING
The university will open parking garages E, at 49th Street and Bluestone Avenue, and C, on 43rd Street between Hampton Boulevard and Monarch Way, to faculty, staff, students and local residents who would like to move their vehicles to higher ground. Vehicles may be placed in those garages from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, at which time the garages will be locked down. The garages will not be reopened until the storm passes and university personnel have been able to clear them for reopening, which means that vehicles cannot be removed from the garage until that time.
Essential personnel should park their vehicles in Garage A, at 43rd Street and Elkhorn Avenue.
Vehicles are not permitted in any other university garages outside of the ones designated above. If your vehicle is parked in another garage and you intend to leave it through the storm, you must move it to either Garage E or Garage C.
FOOD SERVICE
Food service in Webb University Center will be available until 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26.
STUDENT RECREATION CENTER
The SRC will be open until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 and will not reopen until the campus does.