The University and the Law School will be closed Monday, October 24, 2005 due to Hurricane Wilma. Which is only sensible, as the latest forecast is for a substantial hurricane to hit just north of us Monday morning. (How substantial? How far North? No one knows. And even the timing forecast is a bit dodgy.)
University of Miami to Close at 3 p.m. on Sunday and Remain Closed on Monday
All campuses of the University of Miami will close at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 23, and will remain closed through Monday, October 24. All classes, clinical activities, and events are canceled for that time period; however, essential personnel should report to work according to their unit’s emergency plan.
All academic buildings, the libraries (including the School of Law library), the UM Bookstore, and the Wellness Center, will close promptly at 3 p.m. Sunday, and will be locked and secured at that time. There will be no access to these buildings after 3 p.m.
Through the duration of the storm, the most up-to-date information on specific closings and schedules will be available on the University’s Emergency Preparedness Web site, www.miami.edu/prepare, and by calling the Rumor Control Hotline at 305-284-5151. The Hotline will be staffed with live operators beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Disaster planning usually includes taking down the law school computer system. Thus, the best way to reach me is described in how to email me. Of course, if I lose power at home I won’t be reading the email, but at least you will know that I will get it some day. (This blog should remain up, as it’s based in California. However, I may not be able to prune the spam.)
I went shopping again this morning to top up our food supplies. The Publix was well-stocked, except for water, of which there was only a little. What was amazing was how empty the shop was of people. I often shop Saturday mornings, and while I was not alone, this was the emptiest I’ve ever seen it then. I guess lots of people binge shopped earlier in the week, and so stayed home today.
Similarly, when I went to fill up the car this afternoon, the gas station was quiet. But the employees at the local liquor store were told this afternoon to expect to report for work Monday morning, which strikes me as either foolish optimism on the boss’s part, a sign of a slave driving mentality, or a weird idea of what constitutes essential hurricane supplies.
