Hurricane Sandy
University workers are racing to prepare for the region’s first major storm of the season as Category 2 Hurricane Sandy barrels toward the East Coast.
The storm, which has already hit Cuba and Jamaica and is now making its way through the Bahamas, will land on the East Coast somewhere between Virginia and Portland, Maine, this weekend, according to Christopher Strong, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warning coordination meteorologist. The campus may not feel the full force of the storm, but university officials said students should take precautions nonetheless.
“The thing with weather forecasting is that the predictions start fuzzy and general, but after a few days, we get more detail about what’s going to happen,” Strong said. “Our predictions will become more refined as the storm gets closer to us.”
Depending on where the hurricane lands, the university could experience a variety of storm scenarios, Strong said. With potential conditions ranging from light gusts and rain to intense winds and flooding, the consequences of Sandy could be minimal or could require a lot of cleanup. The storm knocked down trees and caused power outages when it hit Cuba Thursday, and the total death toll is at least three as of yesterday, according to Reuters.
“Maryland will see some typical hurricane conditions, but we can’t tell how severe it may be yet,” Strong said.
Facilities Management is working to ensure the university is prepared for the worst, with the expectation that the most severe weather conditions will occur Sunday through Wednesday. Workers are cleaning out all drains and placing sandbags to avoid floods, and teams of workers are preparing to be on the campus during the storm, according to Director of Operations and Maintenance Jack Baker.
“A lot, of course, depends on what the path of this thing is going to take, but yes, we are in preparation mode,” Baker said. “We are getting materials and crews prepositioned to be able to handle whatever we get.”
Strong advised students to organize a “ready kit,” which he said should include water, food and a battery-powered radio. Although the hurricane is predicted to gradually weaken as it continues along its course, Strong said it is essential to be equipped for all situations.
“It’s all about being ready,” he said. “You should have enough supplies that you can be self-sufficient for a couple of days.”
Even if the storm does not have the potential to be cataclysmic, students should stay updated on the hurricane’s whereabouts, freshman government and politics major Estefania Torres-Paez said.
“I’m not very nervous or concerned for the storm because it’s only a [category] two,” she said. “I doubt it will be bad, but people should still be informed and plan ahead, just in case.”
Freshman psychology major Michaela Gallagher said she is not concerned with the storm’s potential to cause damage on the campus.
“I’m not nervous at all being in College Park, but I am worried for my family that lives on the Chesapeake Bay,” she said. “Previous hurricanes have caused people on the bay to lose their homes, which is really scary and concerning.”
