Tuesday, May 31, 2022

With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting an above-normal 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, UNCW’s Environmental Health and Safety Department stresses the need for students and employees to have personal preparedness plans and be aware of emergency procedures and campus communications.

NOAA forecasts 14 to 21 named storms with the possibility of three to six major hurricanes. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2022 Atlantic seasonal outlook in early August, before the historical peak of the season. The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through Nov. 30.

UNCW is committed to year-round preparation for tropical weather systems and other emergencies. The university’s preparedness activities include training personnel, contracting with the private sector for resources, stockpiling critical materials, developing technology solutions and building relationships with community partners.

“Plans are living documents, and continual review is needed to incorporate lessons learned from prior events and to ensure modifications are made to address any changes on our campus affecting how we respond,” said Jeff Campbell, director of environmental health and safety.

UNCW is a Disaster-Resistant University and was the first university in North Carolina to receive the StormReady designation by the National Weather Service.

Emergency Notification

In case of a weather event or any safety-related emergency in the vicinity of the UNCW main campus or satellite locations, the university may use various communication tools to disseminate emergency information and/or announce potential impacts on classes, events or campus access. Please familiarize yourself with these communication tools:

• The UNCW homepage is the official source of emergency information and messages from the university, along with the university’s social media platforms. Other units on campus may share the information posted on the homepage and via feeds. Please be sure you are relying on only official university messaging during emergencies.
• Emails to campus inboxes (students and employees).
• UNCWAlert phone calls and/or text messages. Students, faculty and staff are automatically included on this distribution list.
• Parents and the public can sign up for community alerts via this website. Users who have opted for the service will receive UNCWAlert text messages, cell phone calls and/or emails when the university issues them.
• UNCW Facebook is often the fastest way for students, employees and parents to receive updates, along with campus emails to students and employees.
• The hotline (910.962.3991 or toll-free at 888.657.5751) is activated only in full-scale safety or weather emergencies. It reflects information already available via the online resources listed above and serves those who don’t have easy web access.

Hurricane-Related Resources

•  NOAA National Hurricane Center
•  Hurricane Information from EH&S

--Venita Jenkins
#EHS