Urgent Weather Update: Upstate Prepares for Hurricane Helene
An ominous weather update out of Upstate has educational institutions and communities steadfastly making adjustments this week. A flood watch associated with Hurricane Helene has been surfaced and effective through Friday afternoon. Schools and colleges are now faced with crucial decisions about cancellations and shifting to e-learning methods. Here’s the latest information weโve gathered:
Spartanburg Community College Campuses Close Down
Briefing everyone on Thursday, Spartanburg Community College announced the shutting down of all its campuses on September 27, courtesy of the weather. With a prediction of the hurricane hitting this area with full force in the early morning hours of Friday, Wofford College has declared shifting to remote classes on Friday, following the modality that faculty chooses.
The college officials also advised staff to opt for remote work unless their services are essential to the health, safety, and support of Wofford students. Scheduled volleyball matches on Thursday and Friday evenings and the Saturday game against Mercer University are currently still on.
Furman University Closes; Cancels Family Weekend Activities
Furman University continues to add to the list of closures, with the campus closing tonight at 5:30 through tomorrow night. Family Weekend activities for Furman have also been canceled. During this period, all on-campus activities are suspended – this includes in-person classes, labs, and meetings related to coursework, CLPs, and student activities.
Anderson University Shifts to Online Setup
Meanwhile, Anderson University is not shutting shop but shifting its approach to cope with the conditions. As per the Executive Director of Public Relations at the college, normal activities will run on Thursday. However, for Friday, the strategy is to convert to online classes and remote work for employees.
USC Upstate and Limestone University Shifts to Virtual Learning
USC Upstate won’t be far behind as it has decided to shift to virtual teaching from 2 p.m. today and continue the same on Friday. Joining them in shifting to virtual learning will be Limestone University in Gaffney, who in addition is also canceling classes on Thursday and Friday. The university is also closing down offices for faculty and staff.
Decisions Across School Districts
District 7 has announced that a regular school day will be held on Thursday but all post-school activities for the day are canceled. They will be hosting an E-Learning Day on the following day, Friday, September 27. Several districts like District 4 and District 2 will also be holding an E-Learning Day on Friday.
Greenville County Schools are also switching to eLearning methods on Friday.
G. Ross Anderson, Jr. Student Center at Anderson University is preparing for any emergency by ensuring that it is well-stocked with backup power, emergency supplies, food, and water and will be fully manned during any emergency. Not wanting to be left behind in readiness, even Converse University is implementing storm precautions in expectation of the upcoming weather and is urging everyone to practice safe travel.
Safety Measures and Advice
The authorities in all these educational institutions are encouraging students and staff to remain cautious and take steps for their safety. This includes avoiding large puddles or standing water on roadways during traveling and remaining aware of their surroundings on campus during high winds and rain. Furman Police will continue to work with the National Weather Service to monitor conditions on campus and send emergency notifications as needed. We encourage everyone to remain safe and adhere to safety protocols during this time.
