Elon responds to Hurricane Sandy

With a storm of historic proportions descending on a large portion of the East Coast, Elon sends its thoughts, prayers and offers of assistance to our students’ families who are dealing with hardship. The storm’s impact on the Elon campus will likely be limited to gusty winds and some rain, and there should be no disruption of classes or activities. However, there are important things to know about our community’s response to Sandy:

• The Elon campus and North Carolina’s Piedmont region does not expect flooding or major precipitation. The storm impact in North Carolina is in coastal areas as well as the western mountains where there may be heavy snow.
• Students who are away from campus and unable to return, or whose travel plans are delayed, should send an email to Smith Jackson, vice president for student life & dean of students, at vpstudentlife@elon.edu, who will notify faculty members. Students who are prevented from traveling safely will not be penalized for not returning to campus for safety reasons.
• Communication in an emergency is crucial. Anticipating major power and network outages in the areas hardest hit by the storm, we encourage students and their families to develop an emergency communications plan. This may include leaving “I’m safe” messages on social media systems or bulletin boards. Also, the Red Cross has a Hurricane App for mobile devices that includes an “I’m Safe” feature (details at: http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/hurricane-app).
• Students should update their emergency contact information, local address, and cell phone number with the university to be prepared for any emergency. Please go to http://ontrack.elon.edu, click OnTrack for Students, and then click the “Address Update Form” link under “Communication” to provide or update this information.
• Families that are unable to contact their Elon students may contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students at 336-278-7220. After hours, contact Campus Safety and Police at 336-278-5555.
• Anyone needing assistance may contact the Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students (336-278-7220), Counseling Services (336-278-7280), the Chaplain’s office (336-278-7729) or Campus Safety and Police (336-278-5555). Elon has an administrator on call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.
• There will be a large, costly relief response across several states, and the Red Cross needs your help. To donate visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

During times of disaster, personal connections and community support is critical. The strong Elon community is a resource for those in need, so please let someone at the university know if you or your family are facing hardship in this difficult time.

Smith Jackson
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students