SGU Admissions Dean
09-08-2004, 09:33 PM
We are relieved and happy that none of our students have been reported injured considering the fact that Ivan was a category three hurricane which became a category four while over Grenada. (To put this in perspective, Florida was hit with a category two hurricane last weekend).
There are senior administrators on the campus directing students to suitable places to sleep, and ensuring that food and water are provided. Planning for immediate shelter, food, water and security is being implemented through the Provost, Dr. Allen Pensick, and the Dean of Students, Dr. C.V. Rao, who are on the campus. Dr. Jeffrey Johnston is guiding students to places to shelter.
The University’s buildings are seemingly structurally intact except for roof tiles, broken glass and water damage and will be examined by engineers as soon as they can reach the campus.
It is difficult to move around the island since there are so many trees down and debris from houses and other buildings. However, University buses have been sent from the campus to pick up off campus students and bring them to campus if they want to come.
The University water tanks are at 80% capacity, which should last for at least two days. We are working with the island’s electric company to aid in the restoration of power on the island. The University hopes to have its generator up and running by tomorrow. Before turning on our generator, a series of checks have to be made with the central electric company and our campuses to ensure that we do not create electrical fires. We will be bringing the campus on line in a measured and safe way with our first goal the necessary infrastructure: First, to get the desalination plant running to ensure a safe water supply; Next - communications, air-conditioning, and lights. We will work building-to-building in a cautious way to ensure that the safe return of power to the campus.
The University has in stock $20,000 US dollars worth of food which is being cooked and served to the students, and we are in the process of getting more food to the island.
We plan to have a website bulletin board up on our site by tomorrow. The University felt that it was important to have students contact their parents and loved ones directly by phone and therefore made University phone lines open to the students.
There have been reports of looting in the stores and in the city, although there have been no reports of looting or strangers on the True Blue campus. Students were evacuated from the Grand Anse campus on Monday night before the storm. There are security guards at the TB campus and some have been sent to the Grand Anse campus.
The administrators had a full meeting with the students today, and plan to hold a meeting tomorrow at noon. They are working hard to find out if there are students who may be unaccounted for and sending vehicles to find them.
We hope to have the University open as soon as possible and are reviewing whether that can be as early as next week. We are examining our options as we begin to dig out from this hurricane, and have the intention to reopen the University as soon as it is possible and safe.
Please call our toll free hotline at University Service: (800) 899-6337 or (631) 665-8500, or in the UK, free phone 08001699061 if you have concerns.
_________________
Margaret A. Lambert
Dean of Enrolment Planning/University Registrar
There are senior administrators on the campus directing students to suitable places to sleep, and ensuring that food and water are provided. Planning for immediate shelter, food, water and security is being implemented through the Provost, Dr. Allen Pensick, and the Dean of Students, Dr. C.V. Rao, who are on the campus. Dr. Jeffrey Johnston is guiding students to places to shelter.
The University’s buildings are seemingly structurally intact except for roof tiles, broken glass and water damage and will be examined by engineers as soon as they can reach the campus.
It is difficult to move around the island since there are so many trees down and debris from houses and other buildings. However, University buses have been sent from the campus to pick up off campus students and bring them to campus if they want to come.
The University water tanks are at 80% capacity, which should last for at least two days. We are working with the island’s electric company to aid in the restoration of power on the island. The University hopes to have its generator up and running by tomorrow. Before turning on our generator, a series of checks have to be made with the central electric company and our campuses to ensure that we do not create electrical fires. We will be bringing the campus on line in a measured and safe way with our first goal the necessary infrastructure: First, to get the desalination plant running to ensure a safe water supply; Next - communications, air-conditioning, and lights. We will work building-to-building in a cautious way to ensure that the safe return of power to the campus.
The University has in stock $20,000 US dollars worth of food which is being cooked and served to the students, and we are in the process of getting more food to the island.
We plan to have a website bulletin board up on our site by tomorrow. The University felt that it was important to have students contact their parents and loved ones directly by phone and therefore made University phone lines open to the students.
There have been reports of looting in the stores and in the city, although there have been no reports of looting or strangers on the True Blue campus. Students were evacuated from the Grand Anse campus on Monday night before the storm. There are security guards at the TB campus and some have been sent to the Grand Anse campus.
The administrators had a full meeting with the students today, and plan to hold a meeting tomorrow at noon. They are working hard to find out if there are students who may be unaccounted for and sending vehicles to find them.
We hope to have the University open as soon as possible and are reviewing whether that can be as early as next week. We are examining our options as we begin to dig out from this hurricane, and have the intention to reopen the University as soon as it is possible and safe.
Please call our toll free hotline at University Service: (800) 899-6337 or (631) 665-8500, or in the UK, free phone 08001699061 if you have concerns.
_________________
Margaret A. Lambert
Dean of Enrolment Planning/University Registrar