Dear Campus Community,
The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting winter weather conditions for the Charleston area beginning Saturday night, Jan. 17, into Sunday, Jan. 18. This winter weather system could bring bitterly cold temperatures, freezing rain, sleet and/or black ice.
Detailed winter weather forecasts can be found on the NWS website. Cold weather Advisories, Watches or Warnings may be issued by the NWS.
At this time, campus operations and classes remain on a normal schedule.
Monday, Jan. 19, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is a university holiday. Classes will not be in session. Students, faculty, and staff are not expected to report to campus on Jan. 19.
If the weather forces a closure of campus or schedule adjustments after Monday, Jan. 19, the College will prioritize maintaining academic and work continuity in a remote/virtual environment to the extent possible. Residence halls and necessary support services will continue to be provided. For general information about online learning during a campus closure, please refer to the College’s Emergency Management website.
Should there be any changes in campus operations and/or class schedules, the College’s Emergency Management Team will update the campus community with additional advisories via university email.
Cold Weather Tips
If you go outdoors:
- Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat and mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
- Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
- If traveling in a vehicle, consider taking a blanket, extra coat and boots in the event your vehicle becomes disabled.
- Make certain cell phone batteries are fully charged.
- Watch for patches of ice when walking and driving. Remember, bridges have a tendency to freeze before roadways.
On campus:
- Anyone walking around campus should be extremely careful due to slippery sidewalks and the potential for snow and ice to fall from buildings.
- Report leaking or ruptured pipes and other building issues on campus to Facilities Management using the Facilities Work Orders tile in MyPortal. (Note: On Monday, Jan. 19, during the university holiday, call 843.953.5550.)
- For campus emergencies, contact College of Charleston Public Safety Department by calling 911. For non-emergencies, contact Public Safety at 843.953.5609
- The residence halls remain open, and students will have access to on-campus dining/meal options. Residential students and meal plan holders will receive additional information and tips from Campus Housing/Campus Services HQ.
If you live off campus:
- Ensure doors and windows are closed to prevent cold air from entering buildings and reaching water lines.
- Keep thermostats at a reasonable temperature and avoid any setting below 60 degrees.
- Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
- Protect water pipes by allowing faucets to drip slowly.
- Bring pets inside.
Facilities Support
Cold temperatures can impact our buildings. Report leaking or ruptured pipes and other building issues on campus to Facilities Management using the Facilities Work Orders tile in MyPortal. For campus emergencies, contact the College of Charleston Public Safety Department by calling 911. For non-emergencies, contact Public Safety at 843.953.5609.
Sincerely,
CofC Emergency Management Team