Hurricane Irma: University updates, messages from President Rosenberg


Check this post regularly for the latest updates on university operations.

Click these links to skip to each update:

Preparing for Hurricane Irma:

  • 9/4/17 – Monitoring storm, university operations as scheduled
  • 9/5/17 – University to close
  • 9/6/17 – How to prepare and stay informed through storm
  • 9/8/17 – University closed through Monday, FIU to shelter Monroe County evacuees and campus residents
  • 9/8/17 (evening) – Message from President Mark B. Rosenberg: Bracing for the storm

Post-storm:

  • 9/10/17 – Message from President Mark B. Rosenberg: Preliminary assessment of campus damage
  • 9/11/17 – Message from Provost Kenneth Furton: University closed until further notice
  • 9/12/17 – Library to reopen, call center available for assistance
  • 9/12/17 (evening) – University open to faculty and staff, classes remain canceled
  • 9/13/17 – Classes to resume 9/18/17, information on donations and shelters
  • 9/14/17 – Changes made to academic calendar, Panthers make a difference, FEMA registry information
  • 9/15/17 – FIU community continues to assist those impacted by Hurricane Irma

 

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #7 – Sept. 15, 2017

We continue to make progress toward resuming normal operations on Monday. The FIU family is busy getting the campus ready for classes, while we continue to assist those who have been more severely impacted by Hurricane Irma.

Libraries

On Saturday, the Green Library at MMC will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only FIU students, faculty and staff can enter, with a valid university identification. The Green Library and the Hubert Library at BBC will resume normal hours on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. For the full weekly schedule, please visit the libraries website.

Academic calendar

The disruption caused by Hurricane Irma resulted in more than a week of class cancellations. In collaboration with the Faculty Senate, United Faculty of Florida-FIU and the Student Government Association, we have added a week to the end of the semester to help make up for lost classroom time. We recommend that faculty members update their syllabi so that this coming week is a makeup week. New official academic calendars will be published next week.

Finals week will begin on Dec. 11 and commencement ceremonies will now take place starting on Friday, Dec. 15, through Sunday, Dec. 17. The university is making every effort to be responsive to the needs of students, faculty and staff.

Bayview

The university and Bayview Management are working around the clock with external contractors to restore the building for move-in as quickly as possible. This work will continue all day Saturday and Sunday morning, Sept. 16-17. We will be able to get almost all of our students back into their rooms beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Once we have completed our final inspection on Sunday morning, any student who has a room still under restoration will be notified and provided accommodations at either the Biscayne Bay Campus or Bayview study lounges.

Students who are temporarily displaced will still have limited access to their rooms for showers and to retrieve personal items, and it is anticipated that these temporary accommodations will only be necessary for one or two days. FIU and Bayview Management will communicate an update to all residents again on Saturday.

Students may send inquiries to update@BayviewFIU.com. The main Bayview telephone – 305-998-3777 – will be operational starting at noon on Sunday.

Athletics

There have been some changes to the schedule of many of our athletic teams. Please check the Athletics website for details.

Hurricane reimbursement

FIU employees please be on the lookout for separate communications on how to navigate through the purchase and procurement process related to the hurricane as well as guidance from Human Resources on how to report time.

Call center
The call center is now closed. Today the volunteers fielded more than 350 phone calls about hurricane recovery and campus operations. You can continue to call 305-348-HELP (4357) for pre-recorded updates.

Donations

Many of you are eager to donate and volunteer your time to help our neighbors who have been severely impacted by the hurricane. Please note that FIU is not a drop-off site for donations. Here are some ways you can help:

Time

The American Red Cross is looking for help. Please sign up herehttp://www.redcross.org/hurricane-irma-volunteer-application.

Money

Please remember that cash donations are always best. Financial help is critically needed and provides assistance to the most people in the fastest and most efficient manner.

Florida Disaster Fund 

Red Cross Hurricane Irma Donations

Salvation Army Hurricane Irma Donation

Supplies

Goodwill Industries is partnering with the Red Cross to accept, manage, sort and make goods available where needed. Here are some drop off points:

9760 SW 8 St, Miami, FL 33174

10201 Hammocks Blvd, Miami, FL 33196

2050 71 St., Miami Beach, FL 33141

Official communication

Please remember that official information about FIU is being communicated through email, FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on the university’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

This is the last post-Irma update. Thank you for your attention to these messages. See you back on campus on Monday! Together we rise. #FIUStrong

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #6 – Sept. 14, 2017

Today has been another good day on our way back to normalcy in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. This trying time has brought out the best in our FIU family and together we are getting a lot done.

FIU will resume classes on Monday, Sept. 18.

Faculty and staff have made their way back to campus, the Green Library is open, services such as the Recreation Center and Student Health Center will resume operations on Friday, Sept. 15, and food vendorsat MMC have started to reopen.

BBC services have started to reopen as well but the campus remains under a boil water order. The Barnes and Noble at BBC is distributing three bottles of water per person while supplies last. Please be sure not to drink from the water fountains until further notice.

Bayview remains closed. The property manager is working hard to get it ready. Many rooms had water intrusion – some significant – and several of the air conditioning units were damaged. Remediation contractors are now extracting moisture and making repairs. Please look for an announcement this weekend on when Bayview will open.

Academic calendar

The disruption caused by Hurricane Irma resulted in more than a week of class cancellations. In collaboration with the Faculty Senate, United Faculty of Florida and the Student Government Association, we have added a week to the end of the semester to help make up for lost classroom time. We recommend that faculty members update their syllabi so that this coming week is a makeup week. New official academic calendars will be published next week.

Finals week will be Dec. 11 to 16. Commencement ceremonies will now take place starting on Sunday, Dec. 17, through Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. We apologize for any inconveniences this schedule change may cause some families.

Panthers making a difference

Today a group of voice students under the direction of Vindhya Khare performed for evacuees at the Fuchs Pavilion at Tamiami Park. The students led singalongs of Disney tunes with the children. Members of the FIU Marching Band followed with an outdoor performance. FIU performers then went to the special needs shelter at PG 6 for a second presentation.

Members of the FIU-FAST team spent the day again at West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Jackson South helping treat emergency room patients, who have flocked to hospitals since so many urgent care centers and other providers are closed.

Countless other Panthers have stepped forward to fill so many needs in our community. In the process, we have met many other selfless people who have come to our campus to do good work.

Call center

The call center will continue to be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions related to hurricane recovery and campus operations. Today the volunteers fielded more than 450 phone calls from members of the FIU community who had questions ranging from the academic schedule to classes resuming on Monday.

The call center number is 305-348-HELP (4357). You can also call this number outside of the call center hours for recorded updates regarding university operations.

FEMA

Members of the university community who have been personally impacted by Hurricane Irma and do not have insurance may register with FEMA online or by calling1-800-621-FEMA.

Donations

Many of you are eager to donate and volunteer your time to help our neighbors who have been severely impacted by the hurricane. Please note that FIU is not a drop-off site for donations. Here are some ways you can help:

Time

The American Red Cross is looking for help. There is a particular need for bilingual (Spanish/English or Creole/English) volunteers in the Greater Miami/Keys area, LaBelle-Clewiston, as well as in and around Naples and Ft Myers. There is some need, as well, in Tampa/ St. Pete and Jacksonville.

There are two steps to join as a volunteer:

First, you will need to sign up officially as a Red Cross volunteer. You can do this online at this link: http://www.redcross.org/hurricane-irma-volunteer-application. You will be asked to fill out contact information and a couple of release forms—including one for a criminal background check.

Second, we invite you to click on this link http://bit.ly/2xipr8d and provide information about your preferred part of Florida to volunteer, and the type of work you would like to support. There is a variety of opportunities to choose from, including in shelters, distributing goods and food, and enrolling affected persons in financial assistance.

Money

Please remember that cash donations are always best. Financial help is critically needed and provides assistance to the most people in the fastest and most efficient manner. The Florida Disaster Fund has been activated and is approved by the State of Florida. It is administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation.

The American Red Cross and Salvation Army are both widely recognizable relief organizations and welcome support. Contributions can be made specifically for Hurricane Irma relief through each organization’s website:

Red Cross Hurricane Irma Donations

Salvation Army Hurricane Irma Donation

Supplies

Goodwill Industries is partnering with the Red Cross to accept, manage, sort and make goods available where needed. In addition to being a processing center, Goodwill Industries has also developed its own program focused on people who lost possessions due to storm damage or flooding, or who remain without power and need dry clothing to wear as well as housewares.

While Goodwill Industries can accept almost anything, the current focus is on clothing, shoes, towels, linens and household goods. No perishable food, please. Goodwill Industries prefers, where possible, that all packaging be shrink-wrapped and palletized.

Official communication

Please remember that official information about campus reopening and other conditions is being communicated through email, FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on theuniversity’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

At this time last week we were preparing for a storm. Today we are looking forward to welcoming our students, faculty and staff back to a great semester, grateful we could help so many who were more severely impacted than us.

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #5 – Sept. 13, 2017

Today has crystallized the complexity of recovery for our FIU and the community. We have had a great day of real progress thanks to many selfless people who are working long hours in order to help others and get FIU operating normally.

Recovery and cleanup work is going well, and we expect to resume regular operations on Monday, Sept. 18. Please stay alert for a definitive announcement on when classes will begin.

Most FIU facilities are accessible and have power. Faculty and staff are able to report to work beginning at noon on Thursday to ensure that their specific areas are ready so that the university is fully operational on Monday. Some areas need to be fully staffedThursday afternoon and Friday, while others may not need to bring in all employees.

Please contact your supervisor to discuss the needs of your individual department and your particular circumstances. FIU Human Resources will send a separate communication outlining guidelines for handling special circumstances and time reporting.

Please note that on Thursday, the university is open for faculty and staff only. Classes are still canceled until further notice.

Once you arrive on campus, please report any storm damage, including water intrusion, to FIU Facilities Management right away at 305-348-4600.

The IT help desk will be available to assist with computer issues. Please call 305-348-2284.

Green Library is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the weekend. The library has limited services but electricity, Wi-Fi and some computers are available.

The Student Health Center, the on-campus pharmacy and Miami Children’s Hospital Ambulatory Care Center located at MMC will open on Friday at 9 a.m.

Please use extreme caution when driving to campus as there still is debris on the roads and many traffic lights are not yet working.

Bayview is not yet able to receive residents. Please look for an announcement on this soon. While BBC is open to faculty and staff, please be mindful that there is a boil water advisory for the area.

Call center

A call center is now operational from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions related to hurricane recovery and campus operations.

The call center number is 305-348-HELP (4357). You can also call this number outside of the call center hours for recorded updates regarding university operations.

Places to eat

Some of the food vendors on campus are open during limited hours. For information on what is open, please consult https://shop.fiu.edu/.

Academic calendar

The disruption caused by Hurricane Irma resulted in more than a week of class cancellations. In collaboration with the Faculty Senate, United Faculty of Florida and the Student Government Association, we have added a week to the end of the semester to help make up for lost classroom time. We recommend that faculty members update their syllabus so that this coming week is a makeup week. New official academic calendars will be published next week.

Finals week will be Dec. 11 to 16. Commencement ceremonies will now take place starting on Sunday, Dec. 17, throughWednesday, Dec. 20, 2017. We apologize for any inconveniences this schedule change may cause some families.

Evacuees

Monroe County special needs evacuees are being housed in PG6. General population evacuees have been relocated to the Red Cross shelter at Tamiami Park’s Fuchs Pavilion.

First responders

The FIU Ocean Bank Convocation Center is housing approximately 75 public health and nursing personnel who are here to support the special needs evacuees.

A helping hand

As we work to get the university up and running again, FIU has become a hub of relief planning activity. In the last two days, we have hosted several elected officials including Congressman Carlos Curbelo, Florida Senator and minority leader Oscar Braynon II, Florida House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tempore Jeanette Nuñez and State Representative Jose Felix Diaz.

Today U.S. Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta visited with the special needs Monroe County evacuees who are being sheltered in PG6.

We appreciate that each of them has taken an interest in what we are doing at FIU for the community and vowed to help find the resources our community needs to get back on its feet. They also had opportunities to meet some of the selfless people who have stepped forward to take responsibility for making things better for others.

There are many unsung heroes in our FIU family as well. Assistant Vice President for Parking and Transportation Thomas Hartley is one of them. Yesterday he stepped forward to coordinate an effort to give Monroe County evacuees an opportunity to take showers at FIU’s Riccardo Silva Stadium locker rooms. For people who have been displaced and in many cases do not know if they have a home to return to, being able to take a shower for the first time in five days was a small but important morale booster.

Others have worked behind the scenes to feed the evacuees and volunteers, maintain clean and sanitary spaces and get our facilities ready for next week.

FIU-FAST

We are pleased to report that the FIU-FAST team continues to make a life-saving difference in our own community. The team of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel deployed to augment the capabilities of West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Jackson South.

Music

Our music students continue to come together to lift the spirits of Monroe County evacuees. Today the Amernet String Quartet performed for special needs evacuees. On Thursday, a group is scheduled to perform children’s songs at the general population shelter, which moved to Tamiami Park, adjacent to MMC.

Aramark

Our food vendor Aramark donated 1,000 pounds of fruit and 1,500 bottles of juice to the Monroe County evacuees.

Donations

We know many of you are eager to donate and volunteer your time to help our neighbors who have been severely impacted by the hurricane. Please note that FIU is not a drop-off site for donations. Here are some ways you can help:

Time

The American Red Cross is looking for help. There is a particular need for bilingual (Spanish/English or Creole/English) volunteers in the Greater Miami/Keys area, LaBelle-Clewiston, as well as in and around Naples and Ft Myers. There is some need, as well, in Tampa/ St. Pete and Jacksonville.

There are two steps to join as a volunteer:

First, you will need to sign up officially as a Red Cross volunteer. You can do this online at this link: http://www.redcross.org/hurricane-irma-volunteer-application. You will be asked to fill out contact information and a couple of release forms—including one for a criminal background check.

Second, we invite you to click on this link http://bit.ly/2xipr8d and provide information about your preferred part of Florida to volunteer, and the type of work you would like to support. There is a variety of opportunities to choose from, including in shelters, distributing goods and food, and enrolling affected persons in financial assistance.

Money

Please remember that cash donations are always best. Financial help is critically needed and provides assistance to the most people in the fastest and most efficient manner. The Florida Disaster Fund has been activated and is approved by the State of Florida. It is administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation.

The American Red Cross and Salvation Army are both widely recognizable relief organizations and welcome support. Contributions can be made specifically for Hurricane Irma relief through each organization’s website:

Red Cross Hurricane Irma Donations

Salvation Army Hurricane Irma Donation

Supplies

Goodwill Industries is partnering with the Red Cross to accept, manage, sort and make goods available where needed. In addition to being a processing center, Goodwill Industries has also developed its own program focused on people who lost possessions due to storm damage or flooding, or who remain without power and need dry clothing to wear as well as housewares.

While Goodwill Industries can accept almost anything, the current focus is on clothing, shoes, towels, linens and household goods. No perishable food, please. Goodwill Industries prefers, where possible, that all packaging be shrink-wrapped and palletized.

Official communication

Please remember that official information about campus reopening and other conditions is being communicated through email, FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on the university’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

Please continue to pay attention to these updates. Stay safe.

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #4 – Sept. 12, 2017

The initial assessment of damages to FIU facilities due to Hurricane Irma has been completed. Cleanup and repairs are under way. The university is on track to reopen according to the following schedule:

  • Wednesday, Sept. 13: Researchers and lab technicians can return to their labs. Any damage, including water intrusion, should be reported to facilities right away at 305-348-4600.
  • Thursday, Sept. 14, noon: University open for faculty and staff who need to come in in order to be fully operational on Monday.
  • All classes – including online classes – are still cancelled. We expect to resume classes on Monday but official determination is pending further review.
  • Green Library is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the weekend. The library has limited services but electricity, Wi-Fi and some computers are available. It is only open to FIU students, faculty, staff, who must show a valid FIU i.d.

Please use extreme caution when driving to campus as there still is debris on the roads and most traffic lights are not yet working.

On-campus residents

All MMC on-campus residents who sheltered on campus have returned to their rooms. Bayview evacuees are still at MMC.

Students who evacuated MMC housing before the storm can return to their rooms on Wednesday, Sept. 13, starting at noon.

Students who live at Bayview on Biscayne Bay Campus must remain off campus while some clean up takes place.

Call center

A call center is now operational from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions related to hurricane recovery and campus operations.

The call center number is 305-348-HELP (4357). You can call this number outside of the call center hours for recorded updates regarding university operations.

Volunteering opportunities

As we prepare to return to normal, there are many in our community and neighboring communities who still need help. If you are able to volunteer, the American Red Cross is looking for help. There is a particular need for bilingual (Spanish/English or Creole/English) volunteers in the Greater Miami/Keys area, LaBelle-Clewiston, as well as in and around Naples and Ft Myers. There is some need, as well, in Tampa/ St. Pete and Jacksonville.

There are two steps to join as a volunteer:

First, you will need to sign up officially as a Red Cross volunteer. You can do all of this online at this link: http://www.redcross.org/hurricane-irma-volunteer-application You will be asked to fill out contact information and a couple of release forms—including one for a criminal background check.

Second, we invite you to click on this link http://bit.ly/2xipr8d and provide information about your preferred part of Florida to volunteer, and the type of work you would like to support.

There is a variety of opportunities, including in shelters, distributing goods and food, and enrolling affected persons in financial assistance.

Official communication

Please remember that official information about campus reopening and other conditions is being communicated through email, FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on the university’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

Thank you and be safe.

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #3 – Sept. 12, 2017

At FIU, we are well on our way to recovery and have been able to open the Green Library today (Tuesday, Sept 12). FIU students, faculty and staff will need a valid FIU ID to enter. The library has limited services but electricity, Wi-Fi and some computers are available.

For now, the Green Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are coming from off campus, please enter the campus through S.W. 8 Street and 112 Ave. and park in PG 6. Please remember some areas of South Florida are still under a curfew.

The rest of MMC and all other FIU locations are still closed. Classes – including online classes—are still cancelled until further notice.

On-campus residents

All MMC on-campus residents who sheltered on campus have returned to their rooms. Bayview evacuees are still at MMC.

Students who live on campus but spent the storm off campus should remain off campus until further notice.

Students who live at Bayview on Biscayne Bay Campus must remain off campus since BBC is closed while damage assessment takes place.

Call center

A call center will be open starting on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions related to hurricane recovery and campus operations.

The call center number is 305-348-HELP (4357). You can call this number outside of the call center hours for recorded updates regarding university operations.

FIU-FAST

The FIU-FAST (Florida Advanced Surgical Transport) team has been deployed to assist the staff at West Kendall Baptist Hospital, which saw a large number of patients in their emergency room, in part due to the fact that doctors’ offices, urgent care centers and other medical service providers are closed.

We are proud to report that six physicians, four nurses and one paramedic from the FIU-FAST deployed with one of our mobile clinics to provide additional patient care treatment and have already seen more than 100 patients.

Athletics

All athletic events in Miami are canceled through Sunday. The football game at Indiana on Saturday, Sept. 16, also is canceled.

Monroe County evacuees

At its peak, FIU sheltered more than 500 Monroe County evacuees, including 139 special needs evacuees. The shelter is managed by Monroe County, the Florida Department of Health and the American Red Cross. We are working hard to create more humane conditions for evacuees. We are very pleased that this afternoon a group of jazz students and part of the FIU Marching Band will be at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center performing for evacuees.

Please stay alert to announcements about university operations. Official information about campus reopening and other conditions is being communicated through email, FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on the university’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #2 – Sept. 11, 2017

Provost Kenneth G. Furton sent the following message to students and faculty regarding assignments following Hurricane Irma on Sept. 11, 2017:

We hope all of you are safe in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. I appreciate that many of you are eager to continue your studies, teaching, and research, even while dealing with your personal challenges.

The university is currently closed until further notice. As such, we ask that all faculty be flexible and hold students harmless with respect to the timeliness of assignments. Once assessments of our university and community are complete, we will be able to make a well-informed decision on next steps.

Students, faculty and staff will receive ample notice to make their way back to campus. We ask students and faculty to please not come to campus until you receive notice through one of our official channels, which include email, newsarchives.fiu.edu and social media, that the university is open and classes will resume.

Also, as soon as you are able, faculty are asked to report to your department chair to let them know you are safe and update them on your ability to return to work.

Post-Hurricane Irma Update #1 – Sept. 10, 2017

Even though this has been an exhausting couple of days, and even though the storm we have endured is one of the worst that Florida has experienced, you all must understand that we have survived one of Florida’s most devastating storms with limited damages. Compared to nearby communities and neighborhoods throughout the state, we are relieved and in many ways enabled to help as much as possible.

No doubt, significant advance preparation, and a spirit of cooperation, collaboration and patience have enabled an incredible team effort by members of our community.  I want to thank you for all this.  Even more important, I want to thank you in advance for your patience and willingness to adapt in what may be a situation of extreme difficulty for friends, loved ones and neighbors.

Parts of campus are flooded following Hurricane Irma. Damages across the university are currently being assessed. FIU remains closed until further notice.

In these first moments following the storm as we focus on recovery, please remember that unnecessary accidents and personal harm occur in the effort to secure your property.  We want you and your families intact and moving forward once we resume operations.

It is likely that many members of the university community, friends, family and neighbors were severely impacted by this storm. If you are able to help, please look for opportunities to make a difference in our community.

Now that the worst of Hurricane Irma has moved past South Florida, FIU has started to assess the damage. Here is the current situation at MMC:

  • Almost 5,000 cars owned by students, neighbors, and friends are parked in MMC garages for safekeeping. The cars appear to be intact and the garages are accessible for vehicle removal as soon as curfew and road conditions allow. Please beware of standing water, and other road hazards.
  • The university remains closed and classes–including online classes–are still canceled until further notice. Students, faculty and staff will receive ample notice to make their way back to campus. Take this time to recover, address any damages to dwellings and premises, and help your loved ones and friends to get back on track.

Damage to campus includes felled trees, such as these by the Wertheim Conservatory.

Preliminary assessment

There is significant damage to MMC landscaping, including some toppled trees.  (We will do our best to replant trees, some of which I know are cherished by many of us.)  A preliminary assessment indicates minor flooding, downed light posts and signs. There are reports of leaks and water intrusion in several buildings.

Because the Biscayne Bay Campus is in an evacuation zone, we are just now reviewing the situation there. At this point, we have not identified significant damage.  Likewise, assessments will need to be conducted at FIU Downtown on Brickell, The Wolfsonian-FIU, The Jewish Museum of Florida, FIU@I-75, Aquarius and the Engineering Center.

Recovery process

A group of FIU administrators and staff stayed on campus during the storm. They deserve our thanks and appreciation for their willingness to be on site and available.  They have started the recovery process that will encompass three major areas:

Facilities

Every building on every campus, center and museum will need to be inspected and urgent or safety issues addressed before the campus can reopen. Returning students who sheltered at Parkview to their on-campus suites is a top priority, as is opening the Green Library, where our students can get back to their studies. Assuming no hidden damages, we expect to open our libraries as soon as possible and certainly before classes resume.

Monroe County evacuees are being sheltered in the recreation center and the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Because it is unclear the extent of damage the Florida Keys have sustained, it is impossible to say when those buildings will be returned to normal operations. Please understand that we and now others see our campus as a sanctuary.  Please give our visitors your respect and support.

President Mark B. Rosenberg stands with Chief Information Officer Robert Grillo, center, and a dedicated team of IT staffers who spent the storm managing the data center to ensure our sites stay operational and information remains accessible to the public.

Power and technology

The technology infrastructure fared very well, thanks to excellent planning and active management through the storm. Systems that were brought down for the storm are being restored. However, several campus buildings do not have power at this time.

Students, faculty and staff

Many members of the university community wisely left town ahead of Hurricane Irma’s arrival. Others, unfortunately may have to deal with significant personal challenges and loss. Please know that it will take some time to bring the campus back to normal operations.

All employees should make every effort to contact their supervisor and let them know they are ok. Essential staff should report to work as soon as conditions allow it.

Non-essential staff will be called back to work a day or two before classes resume.

Please look for updates as more information becomes available. Updates will be sent through:

I have often said that we are blessed with a meaningful and purposeful life.  This storm gives us an opportunity to pause, take stock and rededicate ourselves to the cause of hope and opportunity that our university provides.

 

Message from President Rosenberg – Sept. 8, 2017

The next 72 hours likely will be very challenging. Hurricane Irma has shown it has no mercy: the wind will be loud and nerve-wracking, the pounding wind-driven rain will seem unending, and storm-related noise will be annoying, to say the least.

Our collective experience with Hurricane Andrew, and more recent serious storms – as well as our preparation – will serve us well. But the key element is our resilient FIU family and the community of family and supporters from around the nation and indeed the world who have expressed their concern and care for our FIU. Experience tells us that in a situation such as this, individuals can make a big difference. I challenge you to try to make a difference—particularly in supporting family and community. And because we care about you, I want to share with you what is likely to happen.

You will go through a lot during the next few days. I am sure that most of us are already exhausted by the draining efforts to prepare and support others. Safety must be first. If you are bunkered at home, understand that you will likely lose electricity, and may need to retreat to a windowless room if all else fails. During the last major hurricane, many benefitted from battery operated TVs and radios which provided life-saving information. Understand that while you may be afraid, your family members will be equally fearful and that you have an unprecedented opportunity to give comfort to loved ones and to rise above the difficult moments. Because everything indicates that this will be a long storm, don’t be fooled by moments of calm—we may either be momentarily in the eye of the storm or we may be in between rain and wind bands. This storm is expected to last all day Sunday and possibly into Monday. Stay inside throughout.

Because you will likely lose power, you should conserve whatever the battery power you have in flashlights and cell phones. Prior to the storm’s arrival you should fill bathtubs and containers with water. If you have running water after the storm, it’s a good idea to boil it before drinking it.

After Irma has passed, there will be a period of eerie silence before the helicopters, generators, and grinding chain saw sounds fill the void. Because air conditioners will not function, you will feel the blistering heat of our South Florida tropics. Cell coverage and phone connectivity will be limited. Local television and radio will be your best source of information. Standing water is dangerous and so are downed power wires. Stay away from both. Local travel will be difficult: street signage will likely have been blown away, stop lights at intersections may not work, and basic supplies such as generators, plastics and tarps will likely be in short supply.

If your dwelling has sustained significant damage, you will need to make sure that the house number is visible — even if you must spray paint it somewhere on the property. Beware of unlicensed door knockers selling repair services. There were many families ripped off by these con artists.

If you have a generator, please be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning; electric shock and electrocution; and fire. Use it outdoors, away from open windows, vents and doors. Do not run it in an enclosed space like your home or a garage. Make sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling.

Expect that our ability to communicate with you, initially, will be limited by the lack of wireless connectivity. We have back up plans to keep current our website, but if you cannot get access to it, that will not help you.

At this point, we are closed through Monday evening. But we expect to be closed for more days after that. Our first objective will be to ensure that the FIU family is intact. We urge you to help friends and colleagues in recovery. Then we will immediately turn to safety and facility issues. All buildings and systems will be carefully checked to ensure good working order.

Then and only then will we determine a timetable to first reopen the university, and then resume classroom instruction. It is highly unlikely that we can both reopen the university and then resume class simultaneously. We understand that our students, faculty and staff need time to begin the process of recovery. Once the university resumes operations, our Counseling and Psychological Services team will be available to support our students.

Please stay alert to announcements about university operations. Information about campuses reopening will be communicated through the local media and FIU’s official channels:

  • Messages to your FIU email account.
  • FIU social media accounts (Facebook and @FIU)
  • The university news site: newsarchives.fiu.edu
  • Call 305-348-HELP (4357) for recorded updates

Please be safe and keep those around you safe as well. I look forward to seeing you back on campus soon.

Remember this: staying calm can be the Panther Superpower.

Hurricane Irma Update #4 – Sept. 8, 2017

The campus is closed through at least Monday as we deal with the impact and aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Our goal is to get our campuses up and running as soon as possible after the storm but first we must take care of each other and our community.

It will likely take several days to reopen the university and several days after that to resume classes. We will do our best to give everyone ample notice to return.

Faculty and staff should make every effort to check in with your supervisor as soon as possible after the storm. We want to be able to account for every member of our team. Please note that payroll will stay on schedule. Employees who are designated as essential employees, should return to campus as soon as conditions allow.

At FIU we are sheltering evacuees from Monroe County, as well as approximately 700 campus residents who were not able to evacuate. We have a group of committed staff that will be taking care of our students and looking after the campus infrastructure.

Please note that campus parking garages are full and closed as of Friday morning.

Please stay alert to announcements about university operations. Updates will be sent to your FIU email account. Also, information about campuses reopening and other conditions will be communicated through FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on the university’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

Thank you for everything you have done to prepare. Please be safe, stay calm and take a leadership role in your family and your neighborhood to keep others safe as well.

Hurricane Irma Update #3 – Sept. 6, 2017

Now that FIU is closed and each of you has gone home to prepare for the effects of Hurricane Irma, it is a good time to focus on safety and start thinking about post-event recovery.

The most important part of being ready, is being informed. Please monitor local media and watch for National Hurricane Center updates.

Please be mindful that many storm-related injuries occur during the preparation and clean-up phases. Take steps to be safe and use proper protective equipment. All preparations must be completed by end of day on Friday (Sept. 8) as the weather is expected to worsen by Saturday morning (Sept. 9).

Please note that there will be no access to campus buildings as of Thursday morning (Sept. 7). Buildings will be locked and access cards will not work.

As a reminder, members of the university community who would like to leave a personal vehicle in a campus garage to protect it from the storm, may park in the Blue Garage (PG2) (levels 2-4), PG5 and PG6 (levels 3-6) by 7 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 8), when FIU police will shut down all access to the campus. Please understand that after the storm, the campus may be closed and the vehicle may not be readily accessible.

After the storm passes

Once the storm has passed faculty and staff are asked to make every effort to communicate with their supervisor to let them know you are ok. As you assess the effects of the storm, please be careful and do not take chances with standing water, which may be deep, contaminated or electrified.

Please remember that FIU has a communication protocol in place to keep the community informed about university operations. After the storm, please look for updates from FIU emergency managers on your FIU email account. Official information about campuses reopening and other conditions will be communicated through FIU’s official social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter), on the university’s news site and through local media. You may also call 305-348-HELP (4357) for updates.

Thank you for your attention and your active participation in keeping the university community safe and prepared.

Keep calm and take care!

Hurricane Irma Update #2 – Sept. 5, 2017

There is a strong likelihood that South Florida will be impacted by Hurricane Irma later this week and into the weekend. Irma is a large, category 5 hurricane that should not be underestimated. It is imperative that every member of the community takes this threat seriously and pays attention to updates from the National Hurricane Center.

This message contains important information. Please take a moment to read it completely.

Classes canceled

To allow time for the university community to prepare and be safe, all classes, including online classes, are canceled starting at 11 p.m. tonight through the weekend.

Employees are expected to report to work on Wednesday; university services will take place as usual. The university will be closed starting on Thursday. All special events on campus, including the Saturday football game at FIU, are canceled.

Please make good use of this time to prepare, purchase needed supplies and secure property before we start feeling the effects of the weather ahead of the storm.

Prepare

Hurricane preparation may be a new experience for many members of our university community. For tips on what to do, please visit the FIU Department of Emergency Management website or Miami-Dade County’s Hurricane guide.

FIU employees should consult with supervisors about any campus preparations that need to be made, including securing supplies needed to prepare labs, offices or other work space. Before leaving campus at the end of the day on Wednesday, please take the following steps:

  • Back up all your data in case we lose power. You may use CrashPlan, an online cloud storage solution or Microsoft OneDrive for Business from Office365.
  • Please guard against flood damage by raising any sensitive equipment off the floor, especially in ground floor offices.
  • Cover all electronic equipment to protect it from any water leakage that may occur as a result of the storm.

State vehicles need to be filled with fuel and parked in a designated garage.

Campus residents

We urge all students to leave campus. Local students who live on campus, should make plans to ride out the storm at home with family or friends. Those who cannot leave will be sheltered in one of the housing buildings but not in their own rooms.  Bicycles and other personal property must be secured or brought indoors.

Please look for more information from Housing and Residential Life.

Students who live in off-campus housing should plan to shelter in place, go home or go to a Miami-Dade County shelter.

This is the time to gather supplies, medication and personal belongings that you will need to have with you over the next few days.

Evacuations

The Miami Beach Urban Studios, the Jewish Museum of Florida, The Wolfsonian-FIU and FIU Downtown on Brickell employees must evacuate by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Please note that the recreation center at MMC is closed to members and will serve as a special needs shelter for Monroe County evacuees only starting on Wednesday.

Please note that FIU is not a general population shelter.

Faculty members should not attempt to ride out the storm in campus labs. Please take the time today and Wednesday to secure research and facilities.

Members of the university community who would like to leave a personal vehicle on campus should park in the Blue Garage (PG2) (levels 2-4), PG5 and PG6 (levels 3-6). Please understand that after the storm, the campus may be closed and you may not have access to your vehicle right away.

After the storm

Please note that FIU has a communication protocol in place to keep the community informed about university operations during and after emergencies, including hurricanes. After the storm, please look for updates from FIU emergency managers on your FIU email account. You may also consult newsarchives.fiu.edu and look for announcements on local media.

Anyone who has lived through a hurricane knows what a storm of Irma’s magnitude can do. Please remember that many injuries and fatalities take place in the aftermath of the storm. Please plan ahead and take no chances with your safety during or after the storm.

Hurricane Irma Update #1 – Sept. 4, 2017

Hurricane Irma, currently churning east of the Leeward Islands, is expected to continue strengthening and could become a category 4 hurricane in the next few days. Please monitor local media and pay attention to updates from the National Hurricane Center.

University operations remain as scheduled.

In the next day or two, the possible impact of Hurricane Irma to our area will be more predictable. FIU emergency managers are monitoring Irma and making appropriate preparations, should the storm impact South Florida. Likewise, please take this time to review and finalize your personal hurricane plan, make preparations at home and purchase necessary supplies.

Hurricane preparation may be a new experience for many members of our university community. For tips on what to do, please visit the FIU Department of Emergency Management website or Miami-Dade County’s Hurricane guide.

Please note that FIU has a communication protocol in place to keep the community informed about university operations during emergencies, including hurricanes. Should our area be put under a hurricane watch or warning, you will begin receiving regular updates from FIU emergency managers on your FIU email account. You may also consult newsarchives.fiu.edu for the latest.

Please make good use of this time to prepare and take responsibility for your own safety.