USF ANNOUNCEMENT:

Hurricane communications procedures

Hurricane season begins June 1 and weather forecasters are predicting an active season again this year. The University of South Florida will communicate all pertinent weather-related information via the homepage of the USF Web site and on the toll-free information hotline at (800) 992-4231. As a storm approaches, please check the Web site and/or hotline for updates and the latest information regarding weather conditions. Please also be sure to update your name, address and telephone number in the GEMS system to ensure we have the most current information.

A lot of factors go into the decision to close or keep the university open. We have 5,000 students on campus that we have to provide for, we have researchers who need to be in their labs everyday and our clinics provide medical services to hundreds of patients everyday. The county uses facilities on our campus as hurricane shelters and we have to maintain services to these facilities before, during and after a hurricane.

USF is committed to the safety of our students, faculty and staff. We are in constant communication with local and state agencies and we monitor the track of the storms. We urge those who live in other counties to abide by their county's emergency operations requirements. We understand that not everybody can make it to the university after a hurricane and we ask faculty and supervisors to accommodate students and staff during these times.