Dear Campus Community,
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm warning for the Charleston area. The NWS is forecasting winter weather conditions beginning Saturday, Jan. 31 and lasting through the weekend. Weather impacts could reach into the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 2.
This winter weather system is expected to bring light rain and cold temperatures on Friday, followed by freezing precipitation midday Saturday with likely snow accumulation. On Sunday, it is expected to be windy with bitterly cold temperatures. Be careful when going outside because freezing precipitation on roadways and sidewalks could cause black ice and hazardous walking and driving conditions. In addition, ice can accumulate on the roofs of buildings and may start falling when temperatures rise.
Detailed winter weather forecasts can be found on the NWS website. Cold weather Advisories, Watches or Warnings may be issued by the NWS depending on the severity of conditions.
At this time, campus operations and classes remain on a normal schedule for Monday, Feb. 2.
All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring class and/or work materials and portable equipment with them this weekend in the event adjustments need to be made to next week’s class/work schedules.
If the weather forces a closure of campus or schedule adjustments on Monday, Feb. 2, the College will prioritize maintaining academic and work continuity in a remote/virtual environment to the extent possible. 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 and at emergency.charleston.edu.
Essential services such as Public Safety and Facilities Management will remain operational for the duration of the weather event.
Dining Services Impacts
Residence hall operations and necessary support services will remain during the winter weather event. Residence halls will stay open, and dining operations will continue with modified hours. Check the Charleston Culinary Group website for any updates to locations and hours.
Library
Addlestone Library will close at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. The library will reopen Sunday at noon as scheduled. Any changes to this schedule will be made via the library’s website and social media.
Other Campus Events
There are several scheduled recreational events; please check the Campus Recreation page for any changes.
The George Street Fitness Center and Johnson and Silcox Center hours will be posted on the facilities’ webpage.
The Friday Night Flix will occur tonight as scheduled.
The George Street Box Office will notify ticketholders directly regarding any cancellations or schedule changes for performances at Sottile Theatre and other venues.
The Global Game Jam event scheduled this weekend at Harbor Walk will occur as scheduled with the kickoff on Friday night. Participants will be notified of any changes that occur to the weekend schedule.
Safety Tips
The Facilities Management team will begin preparing campus for weather impacts today. Please keep clear of crews and equipment as they work to maintain a safe environment.
Anyone walking around campus should be extremely careful due to slippery sidewalks and the potential for snow and ice to fall from buildings. The College’s Facilities personnel are doing their best to ameliorate these conditions but cannot totally eliminate the associated risks. Those traversing campus do so at their own risk.
The College has suspended Cougar Shuttle operations for Saturday and Sunday nights. Normally, Cougar Shuttle operates from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., seven nights a week. Please plan accordingly.
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.
- For campus emergencies, contact College of Charleston Public Safety Department by calling 911. For non-emergencies, contact Public Safety at 843.953.5609.
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