Snowfall began late Wednesday evening in Raleigh resulting in 1.5 inches of snow the same day that the university’s dorms opened back up for the spring semester.
Just days before classes are scheduled to resume, Raleigh received more snow than expected by local weather officials. Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Wednesday for several parts of the state including Wake County. Gov. Cooper also urged drivers to stay off of roads Wednesday evening and all day Thursday due to ice and low temperatures.
So what does this mean for NC State’s schedule?
Warwick Arden, the executive vice chancellor and provost, and Scott Douglass, vice chancellor for finance and administration, sent out a memo describing NC State’s three conditions utilized in the event of adverse weather conditions. Condition one is followed when events will likely or have already begun to affect campus services or the functioning of local commuting. University operations are reduced, but classes still remain in session.
Condition two and three directly affect NC State’s classes. Condition two applies to more serious safety risks that call for a decreased number of people on campus. Campus operations are suspended and classes are delayed. Condition three goes into effect when an event poses a severe threat to safety on campus. Classes are cancelled and the University is closed.
Per an email sent to students, faculty and staff, NC State operated under condition two all day Thursday. Operations were suspended until 11 a.m. The University has prioritized the removal of snow on main streets, entrances, sidewalks and parking areas.
NC State’s Emergency Management and Mission Continuity (EMMC), a division of Environmental Health and Public Safety, is responsible for coordinating timely responses and communicating to departments on campus during emergency situations. According to EMMC, their main focus the past two days has been maintaining staff and residential areas, including dining halls.
EMMC said streets and sidewalks on campus have and will continue to be brined until temperatures rise above freezing to maintain campus safety.
According to the Grounds Services of NC State’s Facilities Division, students returning from winter break should not experience any problems as they move back into their dorms. Cleanup of snow and ice began Thursday and areas will continue to be monitored throughout the weekend until temperatures rise above freezing, which is expected at the beginning of next week.
