Students can receive weather alerts as university prepares for Isaac

Compiled by Blue and White Flash Staff Writers/Photo By: Terry Haley, Jr.

As Mississippi braces for Hurricane Isaac, many students, faculty and staff members at Jackson State University are watching the weather as they go about their Tuesday as usual, while university officials prepare for the storm’s onslaught early Wednesday.

The university’s emergency management team met on Monday to discuss the campus’ readiness as it relates to the storm’s threat of inland flooding, high winds and possible tornados. An update about classes will be posted on the JSU website 10.14.12.245  after 2 p.m. today.

Dr. Marcus A. Chanay, JSU vice president for Student Life, said he is cautiously optimistic and wants to assure students and their families that every effort will be made to maintain a safe environment and keep students informed about any impact Isaac may have on campus housing, food services, infrastructure and other services.

“We have measures in place to accommodate and provide for the welfare of our students in case of bad weather,” said Chanay. “We want to reassure parents and others that we are in constant contact with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency www.msema.org National Weather Service. We have a designated person on campus to provide constant updates and weather alerts.”

All students who have not done so are being asked to sign up for the university emergency messaging system to stay abreast of weather updates and university emergency information. The university’s emergency response team will send out texts and emails with safety instructions, inclement weather warnings, campus closures and other emergency information. JSU student leaders will also be contacting commuter and residential students, especially freshmen, with campus-related weather information.

Students can sign up to receive text and email messages in the JSU Housing Department or by contacting the Dean of Students on the third floor of the JSU Student Center. Students are also advised to view the JSU website 10.14.12.245  for frequent updates. The university’s emergency notification system, Everbridge, has already sent an email to all jsums.edu email addresses that have not yet subscribed to the notification system. Please check your inbox for a message from support@everbridge.com
for direction about how to sign up for the notification system.

Students may call Dr. Phillip Cockrell, Associate Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students at 601-979-2329 for information.