Dear parents and families,

We want to keep you up to date on the information students are receiving about Hurricane Florence. The message below was sent out to students a short while ago.

Our next scheduled communication will be around 1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, September 12).

One of the great challenges of a situation like this is the ever-changing nature of weather forecasting. Please know, though, that our Crisis Management Team has been working diligently – and across many agencies and organizations – so we can make the best and safest decisions.

I also thank you for your patience in understanding that we may not be able to reply individually to every question we receive. We are logging them all and our communications team is trying to be responsive in future messages.

We continue to send good thoughts to those in Florence’s path.

Best wishes,

Betsy Chapman (’92, MA ’94)
Executive Director of Family Communication and Volunteer Management

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Wake Forest University continues to monitor Hurricane Florence’s potential impact on campus and take steps to keep the campus community safe. University emergency managers continue to prepare for the storm in consultation with facilities, food services, health services and residence life and housing staff.

The National Weather Service has advised that the storm has somewhat slowed its approach, and we are receiving updated forecast models for when Winston-Salem will be impacted. At this time, Wake Forest is preparing for regular class hours and campus operations on Thursday, Sept. 13 and Friday, Sept. 14.

University leaders are working closely with the National Weather Service, and Wake Forest’s emergency managers are meeting regularly with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County emergency management office regarding the latest developments.

We will provide an update on campus plans at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 12 following a midday briefing from the National Weather Service.

Students who have questions about the status of scheduled evening events and activities should contact the coordinating programs and offices.

FEMA will operate Wake Forest’s LJVM Coliseum as an evacuation center beginning Wednesday evening for those evacuating coastal areas. This is an indication that our area of the state is considered to be safer than many others.

The University’s highest priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff and visitors. At this point, we believe it is safer to stay on campus than to risk traveling during the storm or risk not being able to return to campus once the storm has passed.

All Hurricane Florence-related updates will be posted on the Wake Alert website (wakealert.wfu.edu). Please continue to monitor the Wake Alert website, follow @WakeAlert on Twitter and Facebook (facebook.com/WakeAlert), and add the Wake Forest Weather/Emergency line (336-758-5935) to phone contacts.

Wake Forest Communications and External Relations

Contact

To contact the Office of Family Engagement or Family Communications, please visit our contact page.

 

For mental health assistance: 336-758-CARE (2273) is a service that ensures someone will always be available (i.e., 24/7 M-F, weekends and university holidays) to provide caring and thoughtful consultation services for Wake Forest students in need of mental health assistance or support.