Preparing for a big one
The National Weather Service is predicting that Tropical Storm Sandy will make landfall along the central New Jersey coast tonight.
In the Saratoga region, up to a half-inch of rain is expected with north winds from 32 to 37 mph and gusts up to 60 miles per hour. This weather incident will persist for several days with significant rain fall and high winds expected with localized flooding.
The College will be able to go on emergency generator backup power for the entire campus within one hour of a prolonged power outage. Many areas will have power sooner.
As of this time, the College does not anticipate closing. Any notices with respect to closings will be posted on the Skidmore website and in local media via the School Closing Network, which encompasses the following news organizations: Capital News 9, The Daily Gazette, The Post-Star, The Times Union, WFLY, WGY, WNYT-TV, WRGB-TV, WTEN-TV, WRVE, WYJB, and WXXA.
The Office of Alumni Affairs has asked alumni, parents and friends to use the College’s Facebook page to keep the Skidmore community posted on how they’re faring through the storm, sharing photographs and experiences. Click here.
In anticipation of possible storm-related emergencies, the Office of Human Resources is encouraging all faculty and staff to review the College’s Inclement Weather Policy,
“Since the College is a residential institution, Skidmore generally operates on a continuous 24-hour, 12-month basis,” wrote Barbara Beck, director of human resources. “There may be occasions, however, when the College suspends or delays some operations and/or special events due to severe inclement weather or other emergencies,”
“Employees should discuss this policy with their supervisor and ask any questions they may have before severe weather strikes,” she advised.
Raab Lecture Postponed
The Rosanne Raab Visiting Artist Lecture, featuring Sergei Isupov, has been postponed to next semester due to the storm.
Red Cross Seeks Volunteers
The Red Cross is looking for non-disaster response volunteers to help respond to local needs created by Hurricane Sandy. If you wish to volunteer any time through Sunday, Nov. 4, please connect with Erik Morrison, student assistant in the Office of Leadership Activities, at emorriso@skidmore.edu.
“While we do not yet fully know the direction and effects of Hurricane Sandy, we are gearing up now for a high-impact event in the local area,” said Morrison in a note to the campus. “ If the effect is what we expect, we will likely be requesting assistance from Red Crossers who may not normally be part of the disaster response cadre.”
“You should be ready to assist in a wide variety of capacities, including 12-hours shifts at shelters, helping to answer phones, assisting in warehouses, loading and unloading trucks, assisting with databases and paperwork, and welcoming new volunteers to the Red Cross, among many others,” Morrison continued.
Posted On: 10/29/12
