Students, Faculty, and Staff:
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Due to forecasted adverse weather conditions in the area, the University will move to Condition 1 (reduced operations) at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9 and stay in Condition 1 until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9. If a change in conditions is extended beyond 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, it will be communicated no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9 via Alert Carolina. Click here for information about Condition 1 and what this means for students, faculty and staff.
Condition 1 – Reduced Operations
Current conditions may not pose severe safety risks or logistical challenges, but an event has significant potential to negatively affect – or already is affecting – local area commuting, important campus services or the efficient functioning of campus buildings and grounds. Staff, faculty and students should consider their own personal circumstances to determine whether to report late, leave early or not report at all.
For Students and Faculty
- Classes will operate on a regular schedule.
- Individual faculty may use discretion to adjust class schedules and arrange make-up work for students unable to report to class due to the weather event.
For Non-Faculty (Staff) Employees
- Non-mandatory employees, after informing their supervisors in a timely manner, have the option to report to work late, leave early or not report to work.
- These employees must use available personal leave time (compensatory, vacation or bonus) to cover any time away from regular work hours.
- Alternatively, and only with supervisor approval (not mere timely notice to the supervisor), these employees may be permitted to work from home or alternate sites when, in the supervisor’s discretion, it is feasible and safe for this to occur. Employees working away from campus do not use leave. Even so, such arrangements may not be practicable for all types of employees or during every type of adverse weather or emergency event.
- Mandatory employees (whose presence has been designated mandatory to University operations during adverse weather or emergency events) are expected to report to work or remain on the job, and if deemed necessary by their supervisor, to work a differing schedule or shift than normally assigned.
Please note that Chapel Hill Transit will not operate if sustained wind speeds exceed 35 miles per hour.
Campus Units and Services Operational Status
For an up-to-date look at operating status for campus services including dining halls, residence halls, parking and transportation and other campus units and services, visit alertcarolina.unc.edu/status/. The University always operates on a regular schedule unless there is a change to Conditions 2 or 3.
Your safety is our number one consideration. As a rule, students, faculty and staff must use their own best judgment about whether they can travel safely to and from campus.
Weather Information
The University is closely monitoring the potential for today’s severe weather. This storm system could produce damaging winds, moderate river flooding and isolated/scattered flash flooding, and tornados. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro area is under a Wind Advisory until 10 p.m. and a Flood Watch until Midnight tonight. Orange County is also under a Tornado Watch until 9 p.m.
If a tornado warning is issued for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, the Alert Carolina system will be activated, and the emergency sirens will sound. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been spotted, or that radar indicates a thunderstorm circulation that can spawn a tornado, according to the National Weather Service.
Even if a tornado does not develop, there will be strong winds throughout the evening/night that may do damage similar to a tornado.
We also remind everyone that weather conditions such as this can produce dangerous situations on roadways and sidewalks, and if conditions worsen, downed powerlines and tree branches could occur. Be cautious of flooded walkways and roadways and do not approach downed powerlines. Stay away from storm drains and drainage systems: turn around, don’t drown. Also, watch for missing manhole covers or other ground-level dangers. Stay inside if these serious conditions are encountered. For additional details about being safe and secure when faced with serious storms, please visit: weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm.
The University will continue to monitor the storm and significant updates will be announced on unc.edu and alertcarolina.unc.edu, as well as via email and text message. You can also download the University’s emergency safety app The Carolina Ready Safety App.
In the event of an emergency on campus, please call 9-1-1. In a non-emergency, contact UNC Police at 919-962-8100.
Reporting Damage
For staff and faculty:
- To report power loss, water leaks, building flooding, non-life-threatening building damage or downed trees, call 919-962-3456.
- For serious building damage or other conditions that could be a safety threat, call 9-1-1.
For students:
- To report power loss, water leaks, residence hall flooding, non-life-threatening building damage or downed trees, contact your Resident Advisor or call 919-966-2471.
- For serious building damage or other conditions that could be a safety threat, call 9-1-1.
If you see a broken water main or overflowing manhole in the street: Avoid the area and call 911.
Most Alert Carolina Adverse Conditions messages are sent to communicate a change in the normal operating status of UNC-Chapel Hill. Visit the Adverse Weather and Emergency Closing website for more information about University Conditions and policy details.
For more information about Alert Carolina and updates on alerts, visit alertcarolina.unc.edu.