Preparing for Hurricane Irma

PLEASE NOTE: This page was updated on Sept. 9, 2017, to reflect the university’s decision to close in preparation for Hurricane Irma. For the latest updates, please visit the UF Alerts website.

The University of Florida will be closed Friday, Sept. 8, through Tuesday, Sept. 12, in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. As the state of Florida braces for one of the strongest hurricanes in history, departments are encouraged to revisit the university’s and their own emergency plans – or, if need be, to put one in place. Only essential university personnel should report for work on these days.

Guidance on designating and compensating essential employees as well as granting administrative leave for emergency closures may be found on the UFHR website.

UF Health clinical and core service personnel should check with their supervisors as to whether they should report to work and provide support to the academic health center for emergency operations. UF/IFAS personnel outside Gainesville should adhere to their county government guidelines on closing.

Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 12, as the university resumes a normal schedule. This includes student services such as campus dining, the recreation centers and the J. Wayne Reitz Union. Depending on the hurricane’s projected impacts, campus shelters may be opened for students, faculty and staff, as well as extended family members fleeing from coastal areas.

Any announcements regarding UF’s response to storms, including schedule changes or cancellations, will be made through official UF channels. Announcements will be posted to the UF homepage, distributed via the UF Alert system and sent by email as information becomes available.

Forecast updates are available online from WRUF-TV at 20 and 50 minutes past each hour. UF emergency preparedness information is available on Twitter by following @UFPublicSafety. In addition, the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network offers Florida Storms, a free, mobile weather application that provides a simple way to stay informed of potential weather and other hazards. It is newly available through the Apple App Store.

UF’s Emergency Management website provides a wealth of additional information to assist both individuals and departments prepare for a tropical storm or other emergencies.  Visit http://emergency.ufl.edu for more information.

Stay connected — and stay safe!