RCAD ALERT: Campus Assessments following Hurricane Helene

September 24, 2024

UPDATE: 11:52 am 9/27

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) has been assessing the damage to Ringling College’s campuses following Hurricane Helene.

An update has been made to the opening of the Englewood Art Center, due to road closures and flooding in the area. Thankfully, the Center itself did not sustain any major damage or flooding.

The EAC will remain closed to staff and the public through Monday, 9/30 and will reopen on Tuesday, 10/1.

Please continue to monitor your emails for updated messaging. All communications are being posted at: www.ringling.edu/alert

For more information about Hurricane Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Further local resources can be found on the Sarasota County and Manatee County websites.

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 9:34 am 9/27

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) has been assessing the damage to Ringling College’s campuses following Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene made landfall last night as a Category 4 storm near the Big Bend area of Florida.

Reports from our area confirm that several bridges are still closed to the barrier islands and many are without power across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Local governments are urging people to stay off the roads until authorities can clear debris and assess damage.

Ringling College’s Main Campus did not sustain any major flooding or damage, and power was not lost for any sustained period. The campus is safe to return to but please know debris clean up is continuing and all services may not be fully operational until tomorrow or Sunday.

Residential housing will reopen to students tomorrow morning, Saturday (9/28), as of 8:30 am. The first meal provided by campus dining services will be dinner in Cunniffe Commons on Saturday evening starting at 5 pm. We anticipate resuming normal lab hours by Sunday (9/29) but will send a communication with further details later today.

Students are expected to be on time for their Monday morning classes. All faculty and staff are expected to return to campus on Monday morning for regular business operations.

Sarasota Art Museum and the Museum Campus fared very well through the storm. They will reopen tomorrow, Saturday (9/28) as planned to staff and the public.

Englewood Art Center also fared very well and will plan to reopen tomorrow, Saturday (9/28) as planned to staff and the public.

We will continue to monitor the situation and notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please continue to monitor your emails for updated messaging. All communications are being posted at: www.ringling.edu/alert

For more information about Hurricane Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Further local resources can be found on the Sarasota County and Manatee County websites.

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 2:48 pm 9/25

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to monitor the development of now-Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene became a Category 1 hurricane late this morning and continues to strengthen as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.

The main time for impacts to our area will begin late tonight into early Thursday and last throughout much of the day on Thursday. The storm will quickly exit the region late Thursday into early Friday. Storm surge impacts will linger throughout Friday morning.

As of 2 pm this afternoon, all residential students should be evacuated from their housing and off campus.

Offices at the College’s Main Campus, Museum Campus, and Englewood Art Center have closed as of 2 pm this afternoon for all faculty and staff (with the exception of essential personnel).

In advance of the weather conditions worsening, the following weather precautions are recommended:

Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs

We will continue to monitor the situation and notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please continue to monitor your emails for updated messaging. All communications are being posted at: www.ringling.edu/alert

For more information about Hurricane Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Further local resources can be found on the Sarasota County and Manatee County websites.

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 9:00 am 9/25

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to monitor the development of Tropical Storm Helene.

Tropical Storm Helene has formed across the western Caribbean and is expected to become a hurricane later today, before making landfall on Thursday.

To confirm, students are required to enact their hurricane plans and evacuate campus by 2 pm TODAY (Wednesday, 9/25). Beginning at 2 pm, College personnel will be checking that all residential spaces are clear and ID card access will be turned off at this time.

Any students remaining on campus who do not have a current evacuation plan will be taken to a local shelter via shuttle. The shuttle will depart from campus at 1 pm. Please meet for the shuttle in the Goldstein Hall lobby.

If students need any medical prescriptions, please pick these up from the Health Center before 2 pm today. Prescriptions will not be available at the Health Center until Monday (9/30).

In advance of the weather conditions worsening, the following weather precautions are recommended:

Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs

All residential students should make the following preparations to their residences before evacuating campus:

Close and secure all windows and doors
Secure all outdoor furniture by bringing it indoors, if possible
Secure all trash containers (houses have chains installed to secure the outdoor trash containers)

We will continue to monitor the situation and notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please continue to monitor your emails for updated messaging.

For more information about Tropical Storm Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Further local resources can be found on the Sarasota County and Manatee County websites.

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 5:59 pm 9/24

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to monitor the development of Tropical Storm Helene.

Tropical Storm Helene has formed across the western Caribbean. Helene is expected to undergo rapid strengthening as it moves northwards into the Gulf of Mexico. The wind field will expand as the storm strengthens.

To confirm, students are required to enact their hurricane plans and evacuate campus by 2 pm tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, 9/25). Beginning at 2 pm tomorrow, College personnel will be checking all residential spaces and ID card access will be turned off at this time.

Any students remaining on campus who do not have a current evacuation plan will be taken to a local shelter via shuttle.

In advance of the weather conditions worsening, the following weather precautions are recommended:

Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs

All residential students should make the following preparations to their residences before evacuating campus:

Close and secure all windows and doors
Secure all outdoor furniture by bringing it indoors, if possible
Secure all trash containers (houses have chains installed to secure the outdoor trash containers)

We will continue to monitor the situation and notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please continue to monitor your emails for updated messaging.

For more information about Tropical Storm Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Further local resources can be found on the Sarasota County and Manatee County websites.

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 10:16 am 9/24

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to monitor the development of soon-to-be Tropical Storm Helene, currently known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.

This storm is expected to undergo rapid strengthening as it moves quickly northwards into the Gulf of Mexico. The wind field will expand as the storm strengthens. The main time for impacts to our area will begin late Wednesday night into early Thursday and last throughout much of the day on Thursday.

Out of an abundance of caution, the College has made the following decisions:

Classes will be canceled today as of noon, through Wednesday (9/25), Thursday (9/26), and Friday (9/27). Students are required to enact their hurricane plans and evacuate campus by 2 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/25) afternoon.

Cunniffe Commons and The Market will be closed after lunch on Wednesday. To-go options for lunch will be available. Brickman Cafe will be closed all day tomorrow. We anticipate reopening housing and dining as early as the dinner service on Saturday (9/28), unless the campus has been majorly impacted by the storm. Please continue to monitor your emails for updates.

Students are expected to report for class on time Monday morning (9/30). Please make arrangements to return to campus over the weekend.

Due to the loss of four instructional days, the College will utilize the academic calendar’s designated “Hurricane make-up days” December 8-13. A revised academic calendar will be forthcoming. Students and their families need to plan for departures by Saturday, December 14 at 5 pm with the final meal in Cunniffe Commons to be brunch that day.

The College’s Main Campus offices will be closed from 2 pm tomorrow through Friday for all faculty and staff. We will plan to reopen on Monday pending campus assessments for safety and damage.

For all Essential Personnel: Essential Personnel may be required to report to or remain at work if directed to do so by a supervisor or other College official in order to (1) ensure the continuation of critical College operations; (2) attend to the needs of students and other members of the College community; and (3) protect the College’s assets.

Essential Personnel who are activated during a suspension of normal operations will vary depending upon the circumstances, nature, and severity of the event. Supervisors will determine and communicate which functions are essential and if any Essential Personnel will be excused from reporting to work. Depending upon the nature of the event, Essential Personnel may be called to return to campus earlier than non-essential staff.

It is also the responsibility of all Essential Personnel to monitor official Ringling College communications related to an emergency and to respond as appropriate.

The Sarasota Art Museum and Museum Campus will be closed from 2 pm tomorrow for all staff and to the public through Thursday and Friday. We will plan to reopen the Museum Campus on Saturday pending campus assessments for safety and damage.

The Englewood Art Center will be closed from 2 pm tomorrow through Friday. We will plan to reopen EAC on Saturday pending assessments for safety and damage.

The ERT will send another communication by the end of the day on Friday, following an assessment of our campuses and the damage incurred by the storm.

In advance of the weather conditions worsening, the following weather precautions are recommended:

Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs

All residential students should make the following preparations to their residences before evacuating campus:

Close and secure all windows and doors
Secure all outdoor furniture by bringing it indoors, if possible
Secure all trash containers (houses have chains installed to secure the outdoor trash containers)

We will continue to monitor the situation and notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please continue to monitor your emails for updated messaging.

For more information about Tropical Storm Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 6:06 pm 9/23

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) continues to monitor the development of soon-to-be Tropical Storm Helene, currently known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.

We will have more information tomorrow morning following the ERT meeting that will review the National Hurricane Center’s 8 am update, and will update the campus community accordingly.

Please monitor your emails for the most recent updates. Messaging will also be posted on the Ringling College homepage (www.ringling.edu) and the Ringling College Alerts page (www.ringling.edu/alerts).

For more information about Tropical Storm Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

UPDATE: 2:42 pm 9/23

The Ringling College Emergency Response Team (ERT) is currently monitoring the development of soon-to-be Tropical Storm Helene, currently known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine.

The tropical storm is expected to form in the western Caribbean Sea and intensify into a hurricane before making landfall near the panhandle and/or Big Bend area of Florida.

Heavy rainfall and high winds could start to occur in our area as early as Wednesday evening, depending on the course of the storm.

In advance of the weather conditions worsening, the following weather precautions are recommended:

Stay indoors during the peak of the severe weather
If you are walking, remain vigilant of falling/flying debris and flooding
Make any necessary trips off campus prior to the storm’s arrival
When driving, be mindful of ponding water on the roadway and road edges
Ensure cell phone and laptops are fully charged
Download a weather app such as AccuWeather, Windy, or MyRadar for updates
Avoid any downed power lines or broken tree limbs

All residential students should make the following preparations to their residences:

Close and secure all windows and doors
Secure all outdoor furniture by bringing it indoors, if possible
Secure all trash containers (houses have chains installed to secure the outdoor trash containers)

We will continue to monitor the situation and if the storm’s trajectory changes in a way that might impact our campus, we will notify members of our College community. We encourage you to share these updates with concerned families and friends.

Please monitor your emails for updated messaging and consider preparations you should make in the event the storm strengthens.

For more information about Tropical Storm Helene, visit the National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Please Report any emergencies to Public Safety at 941-359-7500 (ext. 7500 from a campus phone) or call 911.

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