University Cancels Classes, Activities Due to Hurricane Sandy Concerns

With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the D.C. area, the university is canceling classes and activities for Monday. Darrell Darnell, senior associate vice president for safety and security, spoke with George Washington Today about the decision to cancel and how community members can stay safe during the storm.

Q: How did the university make the decision to cancel?
A: Based on the predicted forecast of the severity of the storm from the National Weather Service and in coordination with local emergency management officials, the university made the decision to cancel classes and university activities.

Q: What further information do we have about the storm?
A: The latest forecast predicts Hurricane Sandy will make landfall on the Eastern seaboard early Monday morning. The Washington, D.C., area is expected to receive five to eight inches of rainfall along with tropical storm force sustained winds of 40 to 55 miles per hour, gusting to 60 to 70 miles per hour. The height of the storm and sustained winds are predicted to occur sometime around noon on Monday and continue on through Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service, winds will begin to subside late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Q: What should people on campus do to remain safe?
A: Stay indoors; stay away from windows; and if you must go outside stay away from low-lying areas as we expect flooding as a result of the storm. We expect major power outages as a result of this storm so please make sure you have a flashlight and extra batteries.

Q: Where can the GW community look for further updates?
A: The GW community can also get information by following the Campus Advisories website, information emails and GWAlerts. We will provide updates on university operations and the status of classes and activities as we assess the effects of the storm on the campus. Community members can also get updates on the storm from local radio stations, such as WTOP 103.5.