Duke Preparing for Hurricane Matthew
Impact on Durham area is expected to be modest
Duke officials are continuing to monitor forecasts related to the path of Hurricane Matthew and the potential impact on campus operations.
The latest forecasts suggest the track of the hurricane has shifted farther away from central North Carolina. The National Weather Service expects isolated or modest impact for Durham County with less than an inch of rain Friday and Saturday and wind gusts up to 25 mph. Rain and wind should end on Sunday, but the potential for flooding and downed trees exist. The track of the storm could shift again as forecasters monitor the influence of a high pressure system to the east and a cold front to the north.
The Duke Emergency Management Team has been activated and is in close contact with the Duke Marine Lab, located on Pivers Island along the coast of North Carolina. A Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued for the area, and the Marine Lab will close Friday and all students will be evacuated as a precautionary measure,
Events on Duke’s main campus, including the football game on Saturday and Duke Performances events on Friday and Saturday, are currently planned to continue as scheduled. Additional information about events will be communicated as forecasts and weather conditions evolve.
Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Administration and Duke's emergency coordinator, said the most likely impact for Duke's main campus was downed trees due to rain and wind gusts.
"Crews on campus have begun taking precautionary measures such as securing outdoor equipment, inspecting storm drains, and fueling vehicles and generators," he said. "Police and medical personnel, as well as facilities and grounds crews, will be on-site and on-call during the weekend to respond to emergencies, as needed."
Duke community members are encouraged to report flooding or property damage immediately to the appropriate maintenance unit: Facilities for the university campus, and Engineering & Operations for Duke Hospital and the School of Medicine.
Any potential safety-related issues, such as downed trees or power lines, should be reported to the Duke University Police Department, 919-684-2444. Unless a situation is life threatening, crews may wait until after dangerous winds have subsided before responding.
Cavanaugh said Duke is not currently expecting to activate the severe weather and emergency conditions policy this weekend, but updates will be communicated if conditions change.
Additional updates will be posted on Duke Today as warranted.