The Randolph-Macon College Emergency Response Team is closely monitoring Hurricane
Sandy and its potential impact on the college campus and surrounding areas. This
group is also communicating closely with students, faculty and staff and has copied
that information below.
10/30/12 6:00 a.m.: Rain and winds have continued to diminish overnight
as expected. We may have a short burst of snow this a.m. but it will not accumulate
on roads and will be replaced by rain again within an hour or so.
There continues to be no damage on campus and power is intact. Our ERT is staying
in place and will continue to monitor our situation closely for the next 36 hours.
Anyone traveling to the campus should use caution and pay attention to hazards that
may be present along your travel route. According to State Police, these hazards
are mostly wet roads.
All members of the community should continue to use caution by avoiding walking
under large trees until the winds subside even further. There has been no flooding
in Ashland so that is not a concern to us this morning.
Once again the College is Open and operating on a normal schedule. Please use caution
while traversing the campus.
Thank You,
R-MC ERT 10/29/12 10:30 p.m.:
10:30 p.m. Update from the R-MC Emergency Response Team
The storm continues to move west from landfall (just north of Atlantic City, NJ).
Winds in our area have picked up with 32 mph gusts reported as the storm moved onshore.
There is currently no additional damage at R-MC and power is still on for the entire
campus. The Ashland area has received about 1.56 inches of rain which could still
weaken trees and bring down power lines. For now, however, we have continued to
avoid serious difficulties.
Winds should begin to diminish after Midnight and continue to do so through the
day on Tuesday. Rain will also begin to taper off after 7 a.m. We could see some
light snow mixed into our rain in the a.m., but conditions will not be favorable
for any accumulation.
Unless the situation deteriorates considerably, the College will be open and operating
on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and all employees should report for work
at the regular time. As always, if you commute to campus (faculty, staff or students)
and have difficulty getting to Ashland, please let your professors or supervisor
know. Personal safety is important and everyone should use due care for your individual
situation.
Be reminded that wind conditions could still be high in and around rain bands continue
to pass through our area from the north and west. Be alert for hazardous conditions.
Keep an eye on the College website for the latest updates. We do not utilize
R-MC Alerts unless there is an immediate emergency.
In the event the campus was to be impacted by the storm, other forms of communication
include:
• R-MC Website, Facebook and Twitter (on Twitter, follow #RMC #Sandy)
• R-MC Official School Closing Hotline (804) 752-3633
Once again, we thank the community for your cooperation. We are pleased so far that
we have not seen more impact on campus. We also realize that some in our community
may be concerned with loved ones in the Northeast. Please continue to actively care
for one another as this dangerous situation unfolds. All College services, including
Counseling Services will be available on Tuesday, if needed.
R-MC ERT
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Chartwells (Estes) schedule: Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. (use caution when making
your way on campus)
Brock Center, Library and other Offices will open at the normal times in the morning.
Online Class Registration (See original note from the Registrar Below)
Due to the potential for power outages, the sophomore registration window will now
open on Thursday, November 1 at 7:30AM. Freshmen will register on Monday, November
5, and non-degree seeking students will register on Wednesday, November 7. Students
will be able to add a fifth course on November 7.
Revised Registration Dates for Spring 2013 Add/Drop Period
SENIORS (75+ hours earned) Registration opens Wednesday, October 24
JUNIORS (48-74 hours earned) Registration opens Friday, October 26
SOPHOMORES (21-47 hours earned) Registration opens Thursday, November 1
FRESHMEN (0-20 hours earned) Registration opens Monday, November 5
NON-DEGREE SEEKING Registration opens Wednesday, November 7
All registration periods begin at 7:30AM on the designated day as listed above.
Registration will remain open through the end of the spring add/drop period. Once
a student’s registration window is open, it remains open for adding courses until
Monday, February 18, and for dropping courses until Friday, February 22.
To ensure that each student has the opportunity to select 4 courses (of 3 or 4 hours
each) for the spring, MMW will allow you to register for only 14 semester hours.
If a 4th course puts your schedule over 14 semester hours, you may bring an add
slip to the Registrar’s Office for processing. Instructor and advisor signatures
are not required on the add form provided that students have the appropriate clearance.
Beginning Wednesday, November 7, you may register for up to 5 courses as usual.
10/29/12 5:30 p.m.:
5:30 p.m. Update from the R-MC Emergency Response Team
So far, the weather situation on campus has not been as bad as forecast scenarios
suggested. Sandy has continued to make progress to the North as it turned West giving
us more distance between the tropical force winds and rain bands. The Ashland area
has received about 1.3 inches of rain which could still weaken trees and bring down
power lines. For now, however, we have avoided serious difficulties.
Unless the situation deteriorates considerably, the College will announce that we
will be open and operating on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and that all employees
should report for work at the regular time. As always, if you commute to campus
(faculty, staff or students) and have difficulty getting to Ashland, please let
your professors or supervisor know.
Be reminded that wind conditions could still be high in and around rain bands as
the storm continues to move on shore to the North. Be alert for hazardous conditions.
Keep an eye on the College website for the latest updates. We do not utilize R-MC
Alerts unless there is an immediate emergency.
In the event the campus was to be impacted by the storm, other forms of communication
include:
• R-MC Website, Facebook and Twitter (on Twitter, follow #RMC #Sandy)
• R-MC Official School Closing Hotline (804) 752-3633
Once again, we thank the community for your cooperation. We are pleased so far that
we have not seen more impact on campus. We also realize that some in our community
may be concerned with loved ones in the Northeast. Please continue to actively care
for one another as this dangerous situation unfolds. All College services, including
Counseling Services will be available on Tuesday, if needed.
R-MC ERT
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Chartwells (Estes) schedule: Dinner being served until 7:30 p.m. tonight – Breakfast
begins at 7:30 a.m.
Brock Center, Library and other Offices will open at the normal times in the morning.
No Evening Classes tonight.
Online Class Registration (See original note from the Registrar Below)
Due to the potential for power outages, the sophomore registration window will now
open on Thursday, November 1 at 7:30AM. Freshmen will register on Monday, November
5, and non-degree seeking students will register on Wednesday, November 7. Students
will be able to add a fifth course on November 7.
Revised Registration Dates for Spring 2013 Add/Drop Period
SENIORS (75+ hours earned) Registration opens Wednesday, October 24
JUNIORS (48-74 hours ear Registration opens Friday, October 26
SOPHOMORES (21-47 hours earn Registration opens Thursday, November 1
FRESHMEN (0-20 hours ear Registration opens Monday, November 5
NON-DEGREE Registration opens Wednesday, November 7
All registration periods begin at 7:30AM on the designated day as listed above.
Registration will remain open through the end of the spring add/drop period. Once
a student’s registration window is open, it remains open for adding courses until
Monday, February 18, and for dropping courses until Friday, February 22.
To ensure that each student has the opportunity to select 4 courses (of 3 or 4 hours
each) for the spring, MMW will allow you to register for only 14 semester hours.
If a 4th course puts your schedule over 14 semester hours, you may bring an add
slip to the Registrar’s Office for processing. Instructor and advisor signatures
are not required on the add form provided that students have the appropriate clearance.
Beginning Wednesday, November 7, you may register for up to 5 courses as usual.
10/29/12 1:30 p.m.
From the R-MC ERT:
The latest info from our weather station at Copley:
A steady rain is falling with .64 in the rain gauge so far. Winds are 8-12 mph with
a gust of 22 MPH in the last hour or so. Radar shows that Heavier bands of rain
are moving into our area as the storm moves north and slightly west as predicted.
The only damage reported on campus so far was a tree limb that fell onto a car on
Patrick Street. Power is still on.
UPDATE from VA EOC:
The Virginia Emergency Operations Center has advised that the worst of the storm
will be felt in our area around 3 p.m. today. A fewer heavier bands will come into
our area around that time bringing some higher wind gusts. We must also be alert
for imbedded thunderstorms and severe weather.
Given this information, the ERT has decided that the following will occur:
Macon Coffee (the trailer) will close at 2:00 p.m. Estes will remain open with the
“grab and go” food options being moved to Estes (available starting at 3 p.m.) as
well as regular dining (dinner opens at 4:00 p.m.).
The Brock Center and the Library will be closing at 2:00 p.m.
There are no night classes and all campus activities have been cancelled.
- Stay tuned to your e-mail and the web for updates from the ERT
- Watch the weather forecasts to stay informed
- Stay close to the campus. We do not recommend travel as it may become difficult
to get back to campus
- If we lose electrical power, RA’s have been issued emergency equipment, including
flashlights and extra batteries Your RA’s are also trained in our emergency procedures
if needed.
- Keep your cell phone and other devices (like laptops) properly charged. Our web,
phones and network are on back-up power and can function in an outage.
- Water is powerful. If you MUST drive, do not cross areas that are flooded. If
on foot, avoid downed power lines, trees or high water, including storm drains.
- Avoid calling Campus Safety unless it is an emergency. The latest info will be
on our web page or sent out over e-mail or through R-MC Alerts. Campus Safety will
not have information to share that is not already available using our communication
tools.
- Obey the directions that are given to you by the ERT, Campus Safety, RA’s, local
police and other emergency workers.
- As always, report hazards immediately to Campus Safety (804) 752-4710. NEVER approach
downed trees or downed power lines.
- If you are a student, feel free to forward this information on to your parents.
IMPORTANT: Campus Safety and Chartwells (Estes) are the only functions of the college
that are certain to be open. The Physical Plant and Residence Life will be available
on an on-call basis for emergencies and can be reached by calling campus safety.
Please stay indoors if possible today.
10/29/12 6:00 a.m.
Randolph-Macon College is CLOSED today, Monday, October 29, 2012 due to inclement
weather from Sandy. All essential personnel must report. The R-MC Emergency
Response Team will continue to monitor the storm and its impact on on our campus.
Be sure to continue checking the R-MC website, official school closing hotline and
your R-MC email for the latest information.
The following communication was sent to the R-MC community:
Current Conditions in Ashland – our weather station indicates that we have had .09
inch of rain in Ashland. Winds are 5-11 mph out of the North with an average wind
speed of 6 mph and gusts of 19. In short, it is quite nice outside right now on
campus.
Even though conditions are fairly calm right now in Ashland, the forecast still
indicates that the weather will deteriorate during the day. Rather than bring faculty
and staff into the College, only to send them home mid-day, we have decided to cancel
classes and close College offices. Essential personnel should report (including
the Emergency Response Team). Estes will be open for food services and the Brock
Center will be open for recreation this morning. All other College offices will
be closed.
All activities (athletic practices, classes, events) are cancelled today.
Residential Students are urged to keep your attention on the weather today and stay
tuned for further updates. Please keep alert for R-MC Alert messages and comply
with the directions of College officials. If there is a power outage, we will share
messages via Emergency Text Message.
In the event the campus was to be impacted by the storm, other forms of communication
include:
• R-MC Website, Facebook and Twitter (on Twitter, follow #RMC #Sandy)
• R-MC Official School Closing Hotline (804) 752-3633
We encourage you to review some of R-MC’s emergency preparedness plans
If you haven’t signed up to receive R-MC Text Alerts, you can sign up now at: R-MC
Alerts http://www.rmc.edu/alerts.aspx
R-MC ERT
10/28/12 10:40 p.m.:
Commuter Students:
Those of you who live further away from the campus should be aware of conditions
within your own area before traveling to the campus for classes. The faculty are
copied on this note and will understand if travel for class on Monday is impossible
for you individually. You should take precautions to be sure that your commute will
be a safe one. Many of our commuter students live within a couple of blocks of the
campus, but some of you require a drive in from another location. You should put
your safety first and communicate directly with your professor if you are going
to miss class.
The ERT is a 24/7 operation and constantly evaluates weather conditions. Please
monitor E-mail and the website for any changes.
Thank you.
R-MC ERT
10/28/12 9:00 p.m.:
Faculty, Staff & Students: The College is open and operating on a normal schedule
for Monday
The Emergency Response Team continues to monitor the progress of Sandy as the storm
moves up the coast. The storm has continued to move Northward and landfall is expected
further up the coast than expected. That is good news for us, but bad news for the
very populated areas of the Northeast.
If you have been watching this storm and the weather channels, you will have noted
that it will have a little bit of everything for us. Here is a breakdown:
Now – Winds 10 mph sustained with gusts around 18-20 mph.
Tonight - Rain starting after midnight (heavy at times) Winds will be 15-20 mph
sustained with gusts up to 30 mph.
Monday a.m. – Rain (heavy at times) Winds will be 20-30 mph sustained with gusts
up to 40 mph.
Monday afternoon. – Rain (heavy at times) Winds will be 20-35 mph sustained with
gusts up to 45 mph.
The worst part of the storm will be on Monday evening into Tuesday early morning
– Rain (heavy at times) Winds will be 25-35 mph sustained with gusts up to 50 mph
possible. Rain may give way to light snow as the winds bring in cooler winds from
the Northwest side of the storm. No accumulation expected.
Tuesday – Rain/Snow and winds diminishing as storm leaves the area. (no accumulation
of snow expected – Temps above freezing)
The ERT will continue to meet and evaluate conditions as they develop. Updates will
be sent via e-mail communication or through local media outlets if it becomes necessary
to cancel events or classes.
If there is a power outage, we will share messages via Emergency Text Message.
In the event the campus was to be impacted by the storm, other forms of communication
include:
• R-MC Website, Facebook and Twitter (on Twitter, follow #RMC #Sandy)
• R-MC Official School Closing Hotline (804) 752-3633
We encourage you to review some of
R-MC’s emergency preparedness plans
If you haven’t signed up to receive R-MC Text Alerts,
you can sign up now at: R-MC Alerts http://www.rmc.edu/alerts.aspx
R-MC Emergency Response Team
10/26/12 4:00 p.m.:
To the R-MC Community:
The R-MC Emergency Response Team was activated this morning in anticipation of Hurricane
Sandy which is forecast to affect our area from Sunday morning until Tuesday or
Wednesday.
The ERT continues to track the likely scenarios with this storm and we are taking
precautions on campus to secure loose items, clean out storm drains and prepare
for a wind/water event. Current storm models take the storm to the north and east
of Richmond, with landfall somewhere over the Delmarva Peninsula. The last report
showed that the hurricane had 75 mph sustained winds making it a category one hurricane.
The biggest threat to our campus will be some wind, large amounts of rain over a
prolonged period of time and the possibility of spawned thunderstorms or tornados
being embedded in the bands. This may seem very similar to our experience last year
with Irene. We don’t know just yet what to expect and a few hundred miles in either
direction can make a big difference.
We already had rain in the forecast and Sandy will bring more. The wet ground coupled
with winds and wind gusts can bring down trees. If this happens, we could experience
power problems.
The campus is equipped with emergency power in many places and we have a plan to
feed everyone and provide safe places to stay, in a worst case scenario. We are
also the evacuation point for some colleges in the Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads
areas, so we are prepared.
We ask that everyone keep the following points in mind as we continue to move forward:
- Stay tuned to your e-mail and the web for updates from the ERT
- Watch the weather forecasts to stay informed
- It may be a good idea for residents to move cars to locations that are not under
big trees (the old tennis courts and north brock lot are good places as well as
some of the lots in the freshmen village.)
- Stay close to the campus. We do not recommend travel as it may become difficult
to get back to campus. Given that we are a residential campus, we rarely cancel
classes and there are no plans to do so for this storm. Coaches and professors who
have plans to travel this weekend are in charge of these groups and will be in touch
with Campus Safety.
- If we lose electrical power, RA’s have been issued emergency equipment, including
flashlights and extra batteries. If you wish to get one for your own use, please
feel free. Your RA’s are also trained in our emergency procedures if needed.
- Keep your cell phone and other devices (like laptops) properly charged. Our web,
phones and network are on back-up power and can function in an outage.
- Water is powerful. If you MUST drive, do not cross areas that are flooded. If
on foot, avoid downed power lines, trees or high water, including storm drains.
- Avoid calling Campus Safety unless it is an emergency. The latest info will be
on our web page or sent out over e-mail or through R-MC Alerts (sign up if you have
not already). Campus Safety will not have information to share that is not already
available using our communication tools.
- Obey the directions that are given to you by the ERT, Campus Safety, RA’s, local
police and other emergency workers.
- If you are a student, feel free to forward this information on to your parents.
Like any other event, preparation and awareness will serve us best. The ERT is in
the process of reviewing our emergency operations plan and will be as prepared as
we can. We ask that the community stays aware of changing conditions and be prepared
to respond accordingly.
Please stay tuned.
Thanks
The R-MC Emergency Response Team
In the event the campus was to be impacted by the storm, other forms of communication
include:
• R-MC Website, Facebook and Twitter (on Twitter, follow #RMC #Sandy)
• R-MC Official School Closing Hotline (804) 752-3633
We encourage you to review some of R-MC’s emergency preparedness plans at:
R-MC’s Emergency Response Overview
If you haven’t signed up to receive R-MC Text Alerts, you can sign up now at: R-MC Alerts