Download the Severe Storm and Hurricane Plan (PDF)

Introduction

The following information is intended to prepare you to react quickly and effectively in the event of a severe storm or hurricane. This information is to be used in conjunction with the College of Charleston hurricane preparedness plan.

Hurricane season extends from June 1 to November 30 each year. College reactions to these seasonal storms will be based on

• Strength of Winds & Gusts: Miles per hour based on Saphir Simpson Scale
• Size and Direction: Diameter, established and potential path, potential shifts
• Proximity: Position relative to South Carolina coast and Charleston metropolitan area
• Potential for Flooding: Inches of rain per hour and interaction with tides
• Potential to Spawn Tornadoes: Advisories
• Prior Impact: Damage caused before making landfall and resulting anticipated strengthening or weakening.

The College of Charleston plan is comprised of five basic phases: Pre-Season Preparation, Storm Threat Preparation, Class Cancellation/Voluntary Evacuation, Campus Closure/Mandatory Evacuation and Post-Storm Recovery.

The action steps indicated in the stages may or may not be taken within the stages listed, depending on the circumstances of the storm and time of day in which the phase occurs. In addition, a change in stage may be necessary at any time due to the unpredictable nature of hurricanes.

Phase One: Pre-Season Preparation

• Although all residence halls and house zones are equipped with group emergency kits, residents should assemble their OWN Personal Emergency Kits including
  1. First aid kit and essential medications, especially prescription medications.
  2. Extra set of car keys.
  3. Canned food, can opener and at least three gallons of water per person.
  4. Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
  5. Flashlight and extra batteries.
  6. Copies of driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, etc.
• Perform regular back-ups of your computer data to portable jump drives.
• Purchase renter’s insurance and create photographic and/or video documentation of valuables. Remember, the College does not reimburse residents for the loss or damage of personal property.
• Prepare your Personal Evacuation Plans denoting
  1. Evacuation Destination: Choose several places: Home, especially if within a 200 mile radius of the College and away from the storm’s path; A friend's home in another town; A motel or a shelter. Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map of the area. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged.
  2. Method of Transportation. Residents who have their own transportation are strongly encouraged to take other residents with them to assist in the evacuation process.

Phase Two: Storm Threat Preparation

(All measures are in place from Phase One.)

Phase Two begins when a weather pattern is elevated to tropical storm status and poses possible danger to the Georgia or South Carolina coastline. The College may be under Stage Two for several weeks or days before predicted storm landfall.

• Residence Life and Housing will issue a Resident Advisory to all resident e-mail addresses:
1. Notify your parents/family reminding them of your personal evacuation plan.
2. Begin researching available air, train, and bus schedules and fares if not evacuating by car. Arrange transportation to the airport or train/bus station. Arrange for a ride with someone if you do not have a vehicle.
3. Obtain a supply of cash and secure a full tank of gas for your vehicle as early as possible.
4. Back up data on your computer hard drives and portable jump drives.
5. Photograph or video record possessions in your room and suite.
6. Historic and Greek Housing residents will be required to remove all personal items and furnishings from their porches and balconies.
7. Remember: Residents who decide to leave prior to official cancellation of classes are responsible for making provisions for missed classes and assignments with his/her professors directly.
• Staff meetings will be called to advise RA’s and DA’s of measures already taken as well as convey campus consolidation and/or evacuation plans.

Phase Three: Class Cancellation / Voluntary Evacuation

(All measures are in place from Phases One and Two.)

If a tropical depression or storm is approaching the US Southeastern coast in the next 72 hours and the College suspends classes due to hazardous/deteriorating conditions for commuters and residents, residents may choose to leave campus.

• Residence Life and Housing will issue a Resident Advisory to all resident e-mail addresses:
  1. Again, notify your parents/family and update them of your personal evacuation plan.
  2. Make air, train, and bus travel arrangements if not evacuating by car, including transportation to the airport or train/bus station. Confirm your arrangements for a ride with someone if you do not have a vehicle.
  3. Turn off and unplug computer equipment and other electrical equipment. Move your computer and other important equipment to a protected area of your room. (Best locations are away from windows behind a protected wall.) Take your personal laptop computer with you.
  4. Pack important portable belongings for removal from campus. (Note: Very limited belongings will be allowed in shelters or in College sponsored evacuation vehicles.)
  5. Move remaining equipment/belongings off the floor. Pack and remove personal, irreplaceable items.
  6. Place all loose papers and important documents in drawers, cabinets or files.
  7. Cover remaining personal equipment/belongings and important files with plastic (i.e. garbage bags).
  8. Clean and fill your bath tubs (where available) with water to serve as a drinking water source in the event of city supply contamination.
  9. Lock all suite doors and windows, taking all keys with you.
  10. Sign-out with your Residence Hall Director, providing your name, student ID number, destination, home address, emergency contact and a phone number where you can be contacted.
  11. Leave campus, preferably within 2 hours of initial announcement of evacuation, no later than 4 hours. Low lying areas may flood with salt water and can cause damage to automobiles.
• Staff will update RA’s and DA’s of measures already taken and issue instructions to prepare for the storm. As the storm intensifies, the Dean will declare the need to evacuate remaining residents from individual rooms to their designated consolidation points, instructing them to bring their Personal Emergency Kits with them.
  • 1 Warren Place consolidates in 1 Warren 2nd floor corridor.
  • 10 Warren Place consolidates in 10 Warren 2nd floor corridor.
  • 20 Warren Place consolidates in 20 Warren 2nd floor corridor.
  • Kelly House consolidates in Lightsey Center 2nd floor corridor.
  • McAlister Hall consolidates in Lightsey Center 1st floor corridor.
  • Berry Hall floors 1-3 consolidate in Berry 2nd floor corridor.
  • Berry Hall floors 4-6 consolidate in Berry 3rd floor corridor.
  • College Lodge and 298/300 Meeting consolidate in Lightsey Center 2nd floor corridor.
  • Buist Rivers Hall, Lesesne House/Carriage House, 70/72 Coming consolidate in Buist 1st floor corridor adjoining laundry room and RHD apartment.
  • Rutledge Rivers Hall, 2/4/6/8/24 Bull consolidate in Rutledge 2nd floor corridor.
  • Craig Hall, 15/17 St. Philip and 90/92 Wentworth consolidate in Education Center 2nd floor corridor.
  • McConnell Hall consolidates in McConnell 3rd floor corridor.
  • 99/101/103/105/107 Wentworth, 8 Kirkland and 13/28/29/31/32/34/36/38 Coming consolidate in McConnell 2nd floor corridor.
  • BellSouth Building 2nd & 3rd floor corridors will be used to house overflow from McAlister Hall, Kelly House and College Lodge if required.

Phase Four: Campus Closure / Mandatory Evacuation

(All measures are in place from Phases One, Two and Three.)

If a hurricane is suspected of striking the Charleston coast in the next 24-48 hours and the President decides to close the College and suspend classes, the Dean of Residence Life and Housing will issue the closure of all residence halls and houses. All residents will be evacuated.

• Residence Life and Housing will issue a Resident Advisory to all resident e-mail addresses:
  1. Notice of Mandatory Evacuation: Residents who can leave campus and return home must evacuate immediately. The designated evacuation route for downtown Charleston is I-26 in the west-bound (normally outgoing) lanes. Residents without transportation are encouraged to travel with trusted friends/family. Residents unable to travel with friends/family will be evacuated via College provided buses.
  2. Secure Your Rooms: Turn off and unplug computer equipment and other electrical equipment. Move your personal computer and other important equipment/possessions to a protected area. Take your personal laptop computer with you. Lock all suite doors and windows, taking all keys with you.
  3. Sign-out with your RHD, providing your name, student ID number, destination, home address, emergency contact and a phone number where you can be contacted. Indicate whether you intend to take your own vehicle, ride with friends or family (giving their names and contact information) or ride the College provided bus.
  4. Personal Vehicle Evacuees: Call your parents/family before you hit the road. Let them know your time of departure and warn them that traffic will be heavy. Do not talk on your phone while driving.
  5. College Bus Evacuees: Bring your Personal Emergency Kit and minimal personal belongings (toiletries, sleeping bag, towel, medications, 2-3 changes of clothing and laptop computer) that can be held on your lap. No large suitcases are allowed. All personal belongings must be in a book bag or small duffle/gym bag. South Campus bus collection point will be at the corner of George and Coming Streets. North Campus collection point will be on St. Philip Street between Berry and McAlister Residence Halls. The designated departure time of _____ will be strictly enforced. Remaining residents and emergency support staff who fail to report to the loading area accept total responsibility for their personal safety. Whether on the bus or at the alternate housing site, all rules and regulations as described in the Guide to Residence Living still apply.
  6. International residents in particular are instructed bring their passports and visas.
  7. Travel safely and stay tuned to media sources for updates on reopening after the storm.
• Staff will check every room on campus to ensure that no residents remain.

Phase Five: Post-Storm Recovery

Once the College is deemed safe by the President to reopen, students, residents and non-essential staff will be permitted to return to campus.

• When the President says residents may return to the Residence Halls, Residence Education staff will return with the residents on the buses, making sure all residents are accounted for.
• Residents are advised to be careful upon their return. Multiple hazards will still be present after the storm. Expect to encounter fallen trees and limbs, strewn debris, chainsaws, generators and mildew, which can affect asthma and allergies. Residence Education staff will keep first aid kits on-hand. Emergencies will be directed to Fire/Life Safety.
• Residents who live in accommodations too badly damaged to occupy will be offered a place in emergency housing.

Glossary of Terms (in order of severity)

• Tropical Wave or Disturbance – A cluster of clouds and/or thunderstorms without any organized circulation
• Tropical Depression – An organized, tropical, low-pressure system with sustained winds less than 39 mph
• Tropical Storm – An organized, tropical, low-pressure system with a defined circulation and sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph. Storms are named upon reaching this level of strength and can then easily reach hurricane status.
  • Tropical Storm Watch: A tropical storm threat exists for the next 24 to 36 hours
  • Tropical Storm Warning: Tropical storm conditions are expected within 24 hours.
• Hurricane: An intense tropical weather system with a well-defined circulation and a sustained wind speed of 75 MPH or higher.
  • Hurricane Watch – A hurricane threat exists for the next 24 to 36 hours
  • Hurricane Warning – A hurricane strike is expected within the next 24 hours
  • Storm Surge – A dome of water pushed on shore with the hurricane
  • Saffir – Simpson Classification - A system for classifying storm strength as follows:
  • Category 1 Hurricane: Wind velocity of 74-95 mph, storm surge of 4-5 feet, storm strength minimal
  • Category 2 Hurricane: Wind velocity of 96-110 mph, storm surge of 6-8 feet, storm strength moderate
  • Category 3 Hurricane: Wind velocity of 111-130 mph, storm surge of 9-12 feet, storm strength extensive
  • Category 4 Hurricane: Wind velocity of 131-155 mph, storm surge of 13-18 feet, storm strength extreme
  • Category 5 Hurricane: Wind velocity of 156+ mph, storm surge of 19+ feet, storm strength catastrophic