Severe Weather Centre

General Preparation Tips

1. Plan ahead; plan what you will need to do at work and at home to prepare for the storm.
2. Stay calm, listen to weather and emergency radios.
3. Back-up computer hard drives and software, shut down computers and protect computer equipment.
4. Store software and data disks in a dry place at shoulder level like the top drawer of a filing cabinet.
5. Valuable items in your office should be moved and secured away from windows.
6. Lock windows and close blinds.
7. Make sure vehicles have adequate fuel.
8. Park vehicles in a safe location away from trees and in areas not prone to flooding.
9. Unplug electrical equipment such as computers, printers, scanners, monitors, clocks, radios, etc.
10. Cover large valuables with plastic for protection.
11. If caught in a building, stay inside, away from windows and stay near the centre of the building.
12. Leave for your home or designated safety area well before the storm hits.
13. Use battery operated flashlights and lanterns. Don’t use any open flames for lighting.
14. If you have laboratory spaces, prepare those spaces well in advance of the severe weather system.

Students and Parents

Students will receive the latest accurate information about storm preparations, the progression of the storm, university closures and the resumption of services via the university email, website, social and news media.

Students in UB dorms will also receive information pertaining to storm preparations from the Residence Life Director, who will advise of any evacuation plans.

1. Students should contact their parents prior to the storm to advise them of their location and then again shortly after the storm to inform them of their status. (It will be easier for students to contact their parents than for parents to locate students.)
2. All furniture, including beds, should be moved away from windows.
3. Since floors can get wet, all articles such as electronic equipment, shoes, rugs, clothes, bags, suitcases, etc., should be placed on closet shelves or in dresser drawers.
4. Papers, books, school supplies, etc. should be put inside desks or dressers.
5. Valuables should be placed in lockable closets or drawers and secured throughout a severe storm. All doors should be locked when occupants are not in the dorm room or apartment.
6. All students should fill several small containers with water for drinking. Those students who live in facilities that have bathtubs should clean the tub and fill it halfway. If the storm is a major one, water supply may be cut off.
7. The water in the tubs can then be used for washing and flushing the toilets.
8. All windows must be closed tightly for the duration of the storm.

Faculty and Staff

When advised that a severe storm threatens, all university faculty and staff – led by Area Managers or their designees – should take these steps to protect IT resources and data:

1. Update your phone contact list.
2. Back up all computer data.
3. Clear desktops, and cover books, papers, and equipment with plastic sheeting and masking tape.
4. Make a list, with serial numbers if possible, of all valuable equipment in the office.
5. Move desks, file cabinets, and other furniture away from windows.
6. Ensure that all windows are closed and latched.
7. Disconnect all electrical equipment.
8. Remove all personal belongings from the premises and take them home.

To Protect Your Property

When a hurricane watch is issued for your area, the following measures can help prevent or minimize damage to your home or property:

1. Protect windows, sliding glass doors, and skylights with shutters or plywood.
2. Put your car in a garage or other shelter. Secure boats and trailers. Secure outdoor furniture and any other loose material outside.
3. If possible, trim back any dead wood from trees. This will reduce the amount of wind stress on trees and eliminate potential damage from falling limbs.
4. Move valuables away from windows and, if possible, to an upper floor.
5. Bring pets indoors or make other arrangements for their safety.
6. If you must seek shelter in a community shelter, understand that you might not be able to keep your pets with you. Contact your local humane society for information about animal shelters.
7. If you are leaving your home, lock and secure the premises.
8. Take small valuables and important documents with you. It’s a good idea to take copies of your home inventory and insurance policies and cards.

IT/Data and Office Protection

During a severe storm, heavy rains and wind can cause flooding, electrical surges and power outages, damaging sensitive computer hardware and data. Follow these simple steps to reduce the loss/damage of costly computer equipment and data when there is a storm:

Backup Data Files – Although backups should be part of regular procedures, a separate full backup of your critical data should be performed before operations are suspended. For users who store data files on a network server, your network administrator will perform the backup. For users who do not store data files on a network server, identify your most critical data files and copy them to OneDrive.

Computer Storage – As a last step, your computer should be shut down properly and the surge protector unplugged from the wall outlet, rather than individual electrical plugs. Do the same for the monitor and all peripherals such as printers, scanners, and speakers. Move the computer and peripherals away from windows and doors towards the centre of the room. The equipment should be securely supported at least two feet from the floor and covered with plastic sheeting.

IT/Data Recovery 

These steps should be taken to resume normal computer operation after returning to work.

Initiate Damage Assessment Procedures – Take note of the condition of the computer equipment. If it is visibly damaged or appears to be wet, DO NOT plug the equipment in or turn it on. Call the Office of Information Technology [OIT] HelpDesk in order to initiate equipment recovery procedures. (Extension 4588).

Verify Electrical Integrity- Computer equipment should not be turned on if electrical power is unstable. Confirm this with your Physical Plant Help Desk ( or supervisor if you are unsure.

Verify Network Service Availability – Central services such as network connectivity, network file servers, or email servers may not be available. Verify the availability of services with your OIT Help Desk before proceeding.

Verify Proper Operation – Return the computer to its original location and reattach all peripherals. Plug in all power cords and turn the computer on. Take note of error messages and write them down. If necessary, contact your OIT Help Desk.

4^th September, 2019

All faculty and staff of University of The Bahamas in New Providence are to return to work on Thursday, 5^th September 2019.  University operations will resume at the Oakes Field Campus and Grosvenor Close Centre on this date.

Classes in New Providence will resume on Friday, 6^th September 2019.

The University of The Bahamas-North campus in East Grand Bahama and the CELEARN centre in Freeport remain closed and classes are suspended until further notice. An official announcement regarding relief for faculty, staff and students of this campus is forthcoming.

Additionally, all faculty and staff are to attend a Special Call meeting on Thursday, 5^th September at 12p.m. in the Performing Arts Centre at the Oakes Field Campus.

3^rd September 2019

NOTICE

Campus Police and Security staff of University of The Bahamas, Oakes Field Campus and Grosvenor Close Centre, are expected to report as normal today for their designated shifts.  Office of Information Technology and Physical Plant personnel are expected to return to work onWednesday, 4th September.

The public is advised that classes remain suspended and the University remains closed until further notice.

Please exercise extreme caution in navigating the streets of New Providence.

1^st September 2019

NOTICE

Due to Hurricane Dorian, all campuses and centres of University of The Bahamas in New Providence and Grand Bahama remain closed until further notice.

At the appropriate time, a subsequent notice will be issued on the resumption of operations following the passage of the hurricane.

Faculty, staff, students and administrators are urged to continue monitoring local news and all UB official communication channels for further updates.

Office of University Relations
University of The Bahamas
2nd Floor, Michael H. Eldon Complex
Oakes Field Campus
P.O. Box N-4912
Nassau, The Bahamas
Tel: (242) 302-4355/4354/4366

Chartered on 10th November 2016, University of The Bahamas (UB) is a beacon for national transformation. Approximately 5,000 students are enrolled in the University of The Bahamas system which includes campuses and centres on New Providence, Grand Bahama, San Salvador and Abaco, as well as UB online education. UB’s diverse academic programmes, research engagements, athletics and leadership development experiences equip our students to become global citizens in a dynamic world. For more information, visit www.ub.edu.bs.

29^th August 2019

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology is warning that Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane over the next couple of days as the islands of the northwest Bahamas – New Providence, Eleuthera, Abaco, Grand Bahama, North Andros, Bimini and the Berry Islands – remain under a hurricane alert.

Please be advised that as a result of the threat of Hurricane Dorian, University of The Bahamas’ Oakes Field Campus and Grosvenor Close Centre, including Chapter One Bookstore and the Harry C. Moore Library will close at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, 30^th August 2019. However, the UB-North Campus in East Grand Bahama as well as operations at the Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning (CELEARN) and Recruitment & Admissions centre at the Teachers Credit Union building on West Atlantic Drive will close at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, 29^th August 2019.

The University’s Emergency Response Team has already initiated the necessary precautions and preparations for Hurricane Dorian, whose maximum sustained winds were reported to be 85 miles per hour with higher gusts as of 6:00 p.m. EDT.

In anticipation of the storm, UB’s Physical Plant Department has begun to disseminate plastic sheeting to protect computers and other sensitive electronic equipment and will continue to prepare by installing window protections and securing refuse containers. All area managers are urged to assist by contacting the Physical Plant Helpdesk and collecting plastic sheeting as well as ensuring that office equipment is properly elevated and secured.

As is the standard practice under the circumstances, all University vehicles should be refueled and parked outside the Keva M. Bethel Building on Friday before closure time.

At the appropriate time, the University’s Command Centre will be activated on the ground floor of the Keva M. Bethel Building.

Faculty, staff and students are urged to closely monitor the University’s Severe Weather webpage which will be accessible at www.ub.edu.bs, official emails and UB’s social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) to keep abreast of further hurricane announcements including a notice regarding the resumption of operations for all campuses and centres. These announcements will also be communicated via the news media.

As Hurricane Dorian is potentially a dangerous storm, please also closely monitor and observe the instructions issued by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and the National Emergency Management Agency.

6^th September, 2017

Please be advised that as a result of the threat of Hurricane Irma, ALL University of The Bahamas campuses will close effective 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, 6^th September 2017 (today) and will remain closed until further notice. This includes the Oakes Field Campus including Chapter One Bookstore and the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre; the Grosvenor Close Centre on Shirley Street; University of The Bahamas-North in Grand Bahama and the Gerace Research Centre in San Salvador.

The University’s Emergency Response Team has already activated the necessary precautions and preparations for Hurricane Irma, a powerful, category 5 storm with winds of approximately 185 mph, according to the latest alert from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology.

In anticipation of the storm, the Physical Plant Department is installing shutters, completing the trimming of trees and collecting and positioning sandbags. Custodians have already begun distributing to all departments and academic units plastic sheeting to protect computers and other sensitive electronic equipment. Area managers are urged to assist with additional preparations and preventative measures.

The University’s Command Centre is located in the Office of Campus Security on the ground floor of the Keva M. Bethel Building at the Oakes Field Campus. The telephone numbers for the helpdesk are: (242) 325-7391, (242) 325-6303, (242) 323-8972 and (242) 356-0241.

Faculty, staff and students are urged to closely monitor the University’s Severe Weather webpage accessible via www.ub.edu.bs, official emails and UB’s official social media pages (on Facebook and Instagram) to keep abreast of our hurricane preparations and announcements regarding the resumption of operations. These announcements will also be communicated in the news media.

As Hurricane Irma is a potentially catastrophic storm, please also closely monitor the advisories and instructions issued by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and the National Emergency Management Agency.

Dear University Community,

As we brace ourselves for Hurricane Irma, which is projected to impact The Bahamas, and the islands of the Southeast Bahamas in particular, we ask for your prayers as the Government of The Bahamas and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) mobilize manpower and resources in preparation for this potentially catastrophic hurricane.

In an effort to ensure that the University community has sufficient time to prepare for the impending storm, please be advised that all UB campuses in New Providence, Grand Bahama and San Salvador will close effective 10:00 p.m. today (Wednesday, 6^th September, 2017) until further notice.

Please use this time to secure your properties and take all necessary precautions to ride out the storm, like purchasing necessary supplies, including water, medicines, batteries, etc.  Then, remain hunkered down until NEMA has issued the All Clear.

We urge the University community to monitor all announcements from NEMA and the Government of The Bahamas and to pay close attention to all official University communications. The telephone numbers for the University’s Command Centre Helpdesk are: (242) 325-7391, (242) 325-6303, (242) 323-8972 and (242) 356-0241.

We are extremely grateful to all employees, especially our first-responders and all “essential services personnel”: namely, University Police and Security, Physical Plant and Information Technology units as well as Residential Life, Student Affairs personnel and all members of the University’s Emergency Management Team who are instrumental in securing our campuses and resources, activating contingencies to mitigate potential losses and conducting assessments.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all students, faculty, staff, the people of The Bahamas and our neighbours in the Caribbean and the United States.

Last October, Hurricane Matthew blazed a trail of devastation, but thankfully, it left no casualties in The Bahamas. The kind of damage sustained to residential, commercial and government properties, as well as public infrastructure took psychological, as well as economic tolls on the people of The Bahamas. As the threat of Hurricane Irma looms, we remain encouraged by the indomitable spirit of the Bahamian people.

The road to national recovery and restoration in the aftermath of any hurricane is always a long one, but know that your University family will be here to help and support you.  Please be safe. We pray for God’s grace and continued mercies.

Rodney D. Smith, Ed.D.