Hurricane
Season 2006 Arrives;
FAU Prepared

After two years of hurricane-related closings, including last fall's unprecedented shutdown due to Hurricane Wilma and its aftermath (see satellite image of Wilma at right), University officials are reiterating one message: Be prepared. The 2006 hurricane season officially started on June 1 and will continue through Nov. 30. A lesson learned from the last two years is the importance of establishing redundancy in the system of communicating with students, faculty, staff and the public.

Should a hurricane strike any of FAU’s campuses this year, information will be accessible through

• multiple telephone hotlines (see box),
• the FAU home page at www.fau.edu,
• University-wide e-mails, and
• the news media.

Just prior to, during and in the aftermath of a hurricane, the FAU home page will automatically contain information about campus closings and re-openings. New information will be posted on the hotlines and Web site as required by changing conditions and three times a day on a daily basis during a crisis situation. Additionally, the University will send a steady flow of news bulletins to all area television and radio stations as well as local newspapers. While no amount of planning can offer total protection against communication breakdowns during hurricanes, this multi-faceted approach should go a long way toward keeping everyone informed about the status of the various campuses. The goal is to minimize the confusion and frustration that result from a lack of timely information. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact University Communications and Marketing at ext. 7-3020.

Additionally, all faculty and staff should check with supervisors for details concerning specific emergency plans (updated annually). Now is the time to review and be familiar with those guidelines.

Additional resources about hurricanes can be found at the National Hurricane Center.

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