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The FIU Emergency Management Group is monitoring a tropical weather system currently located about 400 miles south-southwest of Miami, which is expected to become Tropical Storm Nicole later on Tuesday, Sept. 28.
South Florida has been placed under a tropical storm warning, which means that weather is expected to deteriorate over the next 24 hours with gusts of wind and heavy rains possible. Much of south Florida is also under a flood watch. The concern with this system is rain, forecasted to average between four and eight inches. Local water managers are preparing for this amount of rainfall and feel that the system is prepared for the expected amounts of rain, but some localized areas may experience heavier than expected rainfall and possible flooding. Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management has prepared flood safety reminders which may be found at: http://www.miamidade.gov/OEM/releases/09-27-10-FDEM_flood_safety.asp.
FIU is open and regular operations are expected today and Wednesday, Sept. 29. Our top concern is the safety of our students, faculty and staff as well as our community. Any student or employee who feels that his or her routine activities during this time, such as driving through flooded areas, could pose a risk to personal safety or the safety of others, should speak with his or her professor or supervisor.
This is a good time for all members of the university community to review office and home storm plans and secure any necessary supplies. For faculty and staff, this is a good time to ensure that you have signed up to receive Panther Alerts <https://portal.adp.com/public/index.htm> .
Please stay alert to advisories issued by the National Weather Service several times a day. Another message from the FIU EMG will be communicated should the situation deteriorate further.
In accordance with FIU emergency communication plan, updates regarding university operations are made available on the university’s news page, newsarchives.fiu.edu, social media outlets and on 305-348-HELP. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the channels of communication the university uses during emergencies.
Thank you and stay safe.
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It seems to me that it might not be a bad idea to close down tomorrow to avoid putting students at risk driving in bad, flooded weather. Things might intensify or worsen rather quickly as they generally do in Miami and then you will have a bunch of people out there in dangerous conditions. Better to avoid than to regret.
Is this article false then that says FIU is closed?
http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/extra/mi27894
Yes. Actually, I think this is an old advisory, not an advisory associated with this weather system. As of 10:50 p.m. Tuesday night (Sept. 28), FIU is planning on being open for classes on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Check back in the morning, however, to see if that has changed.
I really am not looking forward to driving through horrible weather in the morning all the way from homestead . I really wish class would be cancelled so I don't have to struggle through morning traffic and terrible weather!! Please FIU, think about the commuters' and employees' safety in case this storms gets any worse.
I class in the evening. Storm is set to arrive at around 4pm. Why should I have to to drive home at 8:00pm in the middle of the a storm because the school decided not to close for one day?
Hopefully things change.
I commute 2 hours from palm beach and I also have an evening class tomorrow, right around when the storm will hit. I'm worried about getting to school in the first place but furthermore, I don't want to risk being stranded on campus when my class ends at 9 pm! Let's hope they take the cautious approach.
We need to check for updates in the morning? That's a little imrpractical for me since I get up at 5:50am in order to be at school on time. I really wish there was a certain and final answer one way or another. I'm worried about going to school tomorrow. Finding out too late that school is closed and being stuck without a way back home.
I hope that fiu is closed tomorrow.it would be very dangerous to have students drive in the conditions this storm will bring
i have to drive to fiu biscayne, on the expressway.. its an hour drive…. please cancel school!
ah yes but FIU never closes during a storm -.- and then we end up wasting gas and endangering ourselves to find out that class is cancelled…
I don't think it would be safe at all for FIU to remain open tomorrow. The sooner we hear the better. I have to wake up very early to get to school. From what i have gathered in the news, it seems like this storm is going to be pretty serious. The news says it will be record-breaking rainfall!
Traffic is bad enough in good weather. It takes me anything between 45 min to an hour to get to fiu.. I'm mad they're doing this. Even madder if I go all the way over there and the prof cancel class.
They say they care about their students?? If they really care they would close tomorrow. Why do we have to wait until tomorrow morning to see what they decide. All the schools will be close tomorrow! This is ridiculous!
I agree that classes should be canceled tomorrow. This is ultimately a commuter school and it poses a big risk for drivers. Quite frankly, if it is pouring and there are inches of rain, I can't imagine people attending classes that are not mandatory (attendance)
FIU really should close Wednesday. BBC gets flooded very easily and could be a safety risk if the school remains open. We're supposed to get the dirty side of the storm too. Hopefully TPTB will recognize this and close (and FTR I do not even have class Wednesdays)
And to FIU Student: Yes that is an old article, it's actually from 2006. It looks like channel 7 removed the story.
I drive a mini cooper… needless to say, my car will be a total loss if I drive through these flooded roads (from Miramar-Biscayne)… I don't understand how every other school is closed, yet FIU insists on being opened? It's not safe nor secure to be driving around in heavy down-pours for over an hour… I certainly will not put myself or my car at risk.
Seriously, they wanna keep school open? Um, hello! Some of us have to drive for an hour to get to school without heavy rain and flooding! And we're under a tornado watch tomorrow! In my opinion, keeping the university open in that weather is an unwise decision.
Keep checking your FIU email or the email contact you provided your teachers with. The administration as a whole may not share your opinion on closure, but individual teachers might.
I'm really worried about coming to class tomorrow. I live in Pembroke Pines, which is not exactly next door to campus. I'm seriously afraid to drive 35 miles on the turnpike in 45 mph winds. Classes need to be cancelled.
With all due respect, WHAAAA! I can't believe you guys are complaining about having to go to school because it's going to rain a little more than usual. I paid for my classes–I want to get my money's worth. If you feel you are going to risk life and limb by driving to class tomorrow, call your professor(s) and let them know your situation (I'm sure they won't penalize you for missing); the rest of us will continue on with our education. Stay safe.
If this system does develop into a tropical storm, it will happen suddenly today. Many streets are already flooded, and the problem is likely to grow much worse rather than better. Aren't these reasons enough to cancel school operations? Many students will choose to remain home regardless, but the rest of us are likely to get stranded on campus if this system gets any worse.
Im leaving soon to head to school, the roads are flooded and it is very windy…i really can't believe classes haven't been cancelled. Safety first? Yeah right.
I'm gonna have tons of fun on the Palmetto today! Way to go, FIU! Glad to see that you care so much about student safety (not).
Guys I know it might be scary but like Alex said you should try checking your FIU emails and what not. One of my other teachers has canceled class today despite FIU staying open. I DO still have classes in the evening but since I have a Jeep I'm not too worried. Miami has the worst drivers ever! iI you can learn to drive in this kind of weather I think your good for anywhere else. ;D
I am really disappointed, BBC gets flooded very quickly and I am afraid to drive with my car, I also have a low car (not an suv), if they were concerned about student safety they would not have it open today. I drive from pb county also so I am very concerned not to mention trying to drive through north miami beach when it floods very quickly. Entering campus is what I am worried about not the drive there! Next time close the campuses!
I don't know how is it by FIU but my area (north beach-Miami Beach) is not looking dry
Will class be cancel for tonight? I don't know yet how is going to be the weather tonight, but I think is not fair for students or faculty who has a night shift to come over here to a class that ends at 10:30 pm if the weather is so badly.
FIU should be cancel classes for the day but especially for tonight. The weather is deteriorating more and more. I don't think will be safety and fair make students and faculty who have night shift come to classes tonight.
All I can add to this is make your own judgement when it comes to classes, or anything else today. BBC is already getting high water at the entrance, can't really speak for MMC. If you don't feel comfortable coming to class, call/email your professor and let them know your situation. As shown, some professors have already canceled class today, keep checking your fiu email and panther alert at 305-348-4357.
Guys, its simple, if you feel its not safe driving to school just email your professors and tell them your situation…. Im pretty sure they wont penalize you for trying to stay safe. That is what I am going to do… I am not driving on this weather…
WOW… This is ridiculous. As many have written above if it is such a concern of FIU they should just shut the school down. About two weeks ago we had a similar day that wasn't as worse and driving conditions were horrible with floods everywhere. Now I have to write "excuses" to my professors to why I can't drive to school today. Just shut the dang school down. Sheesh
Guys this water is way too wet. there is no way I can possibly get this new hair did all rained on. FIU is crazy what with all this wind and drizzle. Now that I think of it, there are leaves all over my driveway, blocking my car. I think I'll just email my professors. They'll understand. I mean, how can they expect me to walk around with all these raindrops on my shirt. I'll look like I go to Miami Dade.
@ Misery… if they ever offer a class on the proper use of sarcasm and deadpan, please consider taking it.
Hey, UM is open too!
I absolutely love that FIU is open today, yet when I arrived I found out that my professor cancelled class because she didnt want to drive in the rain. The school and professors need to get on track together and stop jerking us students around. Ridiculous that I not only spent gas money to drive an hour to school, only to have my only class of the day cancelled, but that I also risked my life doing it in a storm. Ohh yea….and add on another 30 minutes of my time wasted looking for parking!
@ Misery: that was a hilarious comment.
@ Elena: Did your proffesor not email you?
Professors should send a notification if a class is to be cancelled. All classes by now are on blackboard.
Is it really that hard to create an announcement? The HR Department should train the professors (if needed).
Time is money.
@ Algoreus… even freshmen should be aware by now that a large majority of professors don't do well with technology or they just don't feel like taking a minute of their precious time to send a mass e-mail to their students. In addition, those who do provide a mass e-mail, send it an hour before class is supposed to start. I understand that a lot of the people who are complaining sound like they're whining, but the situation is very irritating.