Hurricane Sandy update

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012
9 a.m.

If you have families or loved ones affected by Hurricane Sandy, counseling is available. Students in need may call the University Counseling Center at 607-777-2772 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Faculty and staff with similar concerns may call the Employee Assistance Program at 777-6655 for assessment and referral resources.

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012
5:10 a.m.

The state of emergency for Broome County was lifted at 4:30 a.m. today and the campus has resumed normal operations. All classes are in session and employees are to report to work as usual. OCCT and BC Transit have resumed normal operations.

Libraries Re-open as Follows:

• Bartle Library, UDC Library at 8 a.m.
• Science Library at 8:30 a.m.
• Library Annex at 9 a.m.

Rec Center at the East Gym

The Rec Center (including FitSpace, and all Group Fitness classes) will reopen at 9 a.m. today with regularly scheduled programming. Call the front desk at 607-777-PLAY with any questions about today's schedule.

Monday, Oct. 29, 2012
11 p.m.

The toll-free numbers have been discontinued due to the low volume of calls. A decision about classes and essential/non-essential employee schedules will be announced at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Monday, Oct. 29, 2012
5 p.m.

Binghamton University has opened up two toll-free phone lines for those who do not have access to the Internet to call in and check for updates. The numbers are 888-787-0540 and 888-787-0541.

Monday, Oct. 29

3:30 p.m.

Cancellations/What remains open

Dining Services/Retail Operations
All Resident Dining Centers will remain open for normal service hours and. all services expected to be available for normal operations tomorrow, Tuesday, October 30. Updates available at http://www.BUdining.com.

There will be no late-night operations tonight in resident dining facilities due to the Broome County state of emergency travel bans and the inability of staff to get on campus.

• The following are closed:
• Meal Plan Office
• UDC Jazzman's
• ITC Kiosk
• LT Jazzman's
• Academic B Jazzman's
• Einstein's
• Tillman Lobby

If classes continue to be canceled, every effort will be made to open LT Jazzman's at it's regularly scheduled time on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Binghamton University Libraries:
Closed

Campus Rec Center at East Gym:
Closed

Campus Preschool:
Closed

If classes are cancelled tomorrow, CPS will be closed. Info will be posted on website and will be announced on the radio. Families notified of possibility as they picked up children.

Bookstore:
Closed

Munchies/Take One:
Open regular hours

Bowling Lanes/Billiards:
Open regular hours

BC Transit:

BC Transit buses will cease operations today, Oct. 29, with the last outbound buses leaving the Downtown Transportation Hub at 6 p.m.

The County Executive has issued a State of Emergency and No Travel Order beginning at 4 p.m. Buses will remain in operation until shortly after 6 p.m. to transport those in need.

For more information or to make special accommodations contact Emergency Services at 607-778-1183.

The bus schedule will resume as normal beginning at 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Monday, Oct. 29, 2012
11:15 a.m.

Classes will recess at noon today, Monday, Oct. 29, for the remainder of the day. All activities are also canceled as of noon. OCCT buses will run until 2 p.m. A decision about Tuesday classes will be made by 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Non-essential first-shift employees may leave at noon and charge appropriate leave credits.  First-shift essential employees should remain at work until the end of their shift.

Second- and third-shift essential employees should report as scheduled. All employees should use their judgment in deciding to report. Any employee unable to report to work or who leave early today are required to charge appropriate leave credits.

A decision regarding first-shift operations tomorrow will be made prior to 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Anyone with a fume hood must cap and seal everything in the fume hood and close windows before leaving.

Hurricane update/tips to prepare

The National Weather Service advises that Hurricane Sandy will bring high winds to the Greater Binghamton region by mid-afternoon today, Monday, Oct. 29. The winds are expected to continue through Monday night. As a result, power outages of an undetermined length of time are expected.

Winds are expected to have the biggest impact in our area, with some rain that may be heavy at times. No major flooding is expected but flood watches remain in effect. Widespread power outages are expected and the campus is still urged to conserve water and to prepare for a power outage of undetermined duration.

Be assured that the University's emergency management team is closely monitoring the storm and making preparations to protect students and the campus.

In the event of an electrical outage, remain in your residence hall room until instructed otherwise.

Before the storm makes landfall, you are asked to:

• Close all windows and remove valuables from your windowsills.
• Fully charge all of your electronic devices including your cell phone.
• Have a flashlight and extra batteries ready. Do not light any candles.
• Keep any prescription medication with you.
• Prepare your toiletries, medications and other necessities, including blanket and pillow, in event of an evacuation.
• Continue to conserve water.
• Continue to monitor weather forecasts and events as they unfold.

Visit www.ready.gov for more information on how to be prepared in anticipation of the storm's arrival.

For Binghamton University updates: the Binghamton University homepage or the Binghamton University Facebook page and Twitter.

October 28, 2012

Binghamton University's Incident Management Team is closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Sandy and making preparations for possible power outages and water shortages on campus. Classes are still scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29. A decision on when or if to cancel classes and activities later in the day on Monday or Tuesday will be announced at noon Monday, following a National Weather Service briefing.

At this time, all employees are expected to report to work as usual Monday, Oct. 29.

If you are not currently registered to receive emergency messaging, you are strongly encouraged to do so by logging into BU Brain at binghamton.edu/self-service/ or logging in directly at getrave.com/login/binghamton.

In preparation for any power outages and water shortages, the campus is asked to conserve water. Students are also urged to fully charge all of their electronic devices and avoid the use of any candles. Additional items to avoid, as noted in housing licenses, include halogen or multi-headed lamps, toasters and toaster ovens, rice cookers, lamps with plastic shades, incense, space heaters, hot plates, extension cords or cube adapters and anything with an open flame or heating element.

For the latest updates, visit the Binghamton University homepage at http://www.binghamton.edu/.