With hurricane season underway, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the tropics for severe weather with the potential to impact our community.

Tropical Storm Hermine is currently in the gulf and strengthening. Central Florida may experience some severe weather overnight but is not expected to receive any of the storm’s direct impact, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Now is the time to prepare, not panic. In anticipation of a possible impactβ€”and with the understanding that hurricane season lasts through Novemberβ€”ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ recommends that you starting thinking now about what you would do in the event of a storm.

During any threatening weather, the Office of Emergency Management works closely with the National Weather Service to keep ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ leadership, students and faculty and staff members updated through and through ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Alert text and email notifications.

Students, faculty and staff members may also sign up to receive severe weather bulletins from ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. This listserv doesn’t replace ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Alert but does provide more detailed information about potential weather threats to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s campuses.

To subscribe to the weather bulletins, email listserv@listserv.cc.ucf.edu with β€œsubscribe OEM-NOTICE” in the body of the message. The subject line should be left blank, and be sure to send the email from the address that you wish to receive emails to.

How to Prepare

Before a situation arises, all students should have a pre-packed weather emergency kit. explains what should be included in emergency kits. In the event of an emergency that poses an imminent threat to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, resident assistants will provide more detailed instructions for students who live on campus.

Faculty and staff members also should take steps to prepare personally and consult with supervisors about any special preparation needs at home or at the office.

Home and office checklists and other hurricane preparedness resources are available at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Office of Emergency Management.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is β€˜StormReady’

Last month ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ was again certified as β€œStormReady,” continuing to be the largest university in the country to hold the National Weather Service title.

The designation, good through 2019, means that ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has met an advanced level of preparedness for a severe weather event. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ was first recognized as β€œStormReady” in 2010.

StormReady is a nationwide program that helps communities– including universities, military agencies and commercial centers– develop emergency weather plans. β€œStormReady” designees work in partnership with National Weather Service officials and state and local emergency managers.

β€œStormReady” communities must meet the following criteria:

  • Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
  • Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public
  • Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally
  • Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars
  • Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.