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Comprehensive winter weather info

by Betsy Chapman

In this Issue:

  • Power to campus
  • Winter weather preparedness website
  • Affiliate housing program announced
  • Upcoming OPCD events

Today is a lot of news. Of course the wintry weather forecast is at the top of everyone’s minds – both yours and mine, as well as my colleagues.

Let me frame today’s post by starting with some reassurance: we have a dedicated Emergency Manager on campus who has been monitoring the situation and convening the appropriate folks on campus throughout the week. We have been working on planning and response efforts, as well as communications to our students, and to our Daily Deac readers.

As I have said to many of you who have contacted me, I have been through many crisis situations here at Wake Forest. We have a winter weather plan that will be activated, as needed, with 24/7 shifts to keep streets passable for emergency vehicles, walkways open to and from dining facilities, and pathways to offices and classrooms clear before the reopening of campus operations. I trust this team and the people on it to do everything they can for our campus.

I am going to an emergency preparedness meeting late this afternoon, and I will share any new information tomorrow in the Daily Deac.

Power to campus

Some of you have asked about power on campus. Here is what my campus experts have told me: “Wake Forest’s power lines are underground and are supplied by a dedicated substation with redundant electrical power transmission feeds. The system has endured multiple winter weather events, and we anticipate similar performance with most weather events. In the case of electrical transmission interruptions, utility provider Duke Energy typically provides prompt service to the Wake Forest campus. 

Students living off campus with overhead power lines may be at higher risk for power outages. These include many of the residential neighborhoods and apartment complexes near the Reynolda Campus. Campus buildings may be opened as needed if students without power at their off-campus residences need shelter.”

I will also anecdotally say that students are very good about being in touch with their friends on campus or members of the same student organizations to bunk with (either for a power outage, or their roommate is sick, etc.). Our students are very resourceful in this way.

Winter weather preparedness website

Every Thursday afternoon, we send a WFU Should Know email to all students. This week’s issue will include a link to our comprehensive winter weather website, which has information and guidance for:

We encourage all students to familiarize themselves with the winter weather website as we prepare for the wintry weather this weekend. And students will be informed of any weather-related campus closings and delays by all normal Wake Alert methods. We also notify four area television stations – WXII, WGHP, WFMY and Spectrum News 14.

Affiliate housing program announced

In non-weather news, this morning, Wake announced a new Affiliate Housing Program that will expand housing options for juniors, while preserving our distinctive, student-centered residential experience:

“Beginning with the Class of 2029, eligible students may fulfill the six-semester residency requirement by living at an approved affiliate property during their junior year. As part of this initiative, Wake Forest also introduced Creekside at The Grounds, opening Fall 2027, as a featured affiliate housing provider. Learn more about the program, Creekside, and what this means for future housing planning.”

I have been deep in winter weather prep so I don’t have any additional info on this beyond what is in the message.

Upcoming OPCD events

The OPCD has asked me to share the following with Daily Deac families:

“As we begin a new semester, we know that your encouragement is often the spark that motivates students to take the next step in their professional journey. At the Office of Personal and Career Development (OPCD), we are dedicated to helping your student translate their liberal arts education into a successful career.

We have several high-impact events approaching quickly. Please encourage your student to explore the following opportunities and register for those that align with their goals:

For the parents and families reading the Daily Deac, I know it can be anxiety-provoking to think of your students navigating a winter storm. I feel it too – mine is in the path of this weather as well (and has just come down with some kind of virus). No one can exactly predict the impact of the looming winter weather; the sense I am getting is that the forecast is not 100% solid yet – still a fair degree of uncertainty as to what we might get.

While I cannot guarantee that our students won’t experience inconvenience, discomfort, etc., I can say that our students are incredibly resilient. They weather (pardon the pun!) things remarkably well.

I am a glass half full kinda girl, and I’m trying to focus my thoughts on the fact that my ’27 will learn new things from this experience that will make them better prepared for future weather events they might face. And I can take comfort in that.

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