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UNCW Officials Encourage Storm Readiness Ahead of Hurricane Season

UNCW Alert

As North Carolina’s coastal university, UNCW addresses issues of local, regional and global importance. The institution is bolstered by understanding its history, community and coastal location. 

Ahead of Atlantic hurricane season (June 1-Nov. 30), the UNCW Department of Environmental Health and Safety and campus partners stress the importance of emergency procedures, campus communications awareness and the importance of personal preparedness plans. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a near-normal season. This summer, NOAA plans to implement a series of upgrades and improvements to run more complex models, extending the tropical cyclone graphic from five to seven days and improving storm surge forecasting. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update the 2023 Atlantic seasonal outlook in early August, before the historical peak of the season.  

UNCW was the first university in North Carolina to receive the StormReady designation by the National Weather Service. As a Disaster Resistant University, UNCW practices emergency preparedness through education, mitigation projects and routine review of its emergency plans and procedures, so campus operations can continue with minimal interruption. 

In the event of a weather or other safety-related emergency in the vicinity of the UNCW main campus or satellite locations, the university will utilize various communication tools to disseminate emergency information and/or announce potential impacts on classes, events or campus access. These tools include: 

  • UNCW homepage: 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 via their channels. Please rely on official university messaging during emergencies. 
  • Campus emails  
  • UNCW Alert 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 UNCW Alert text messages, cell phone calls and/or emails when the university issues them. 
  • 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. 

Additional Resources: 

 


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