UPDATE: Curfew In Effect Tonight for Chatham County Due to Hurricane Irma
(September 10, 2017 - 5:00:25 pm EDT)
Here are a few important updates from the latest Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) press conference at 4 p.m. today:
- Chatham County will have a mandatory curfew in place tonight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Only first responders will be permitted on the street. Anyone else is subject to a $1,000 fine as well as up to 60 days in jail.
- A Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Warning, Hurricane Watch and Flash Flood Watch are currently in effect for Chatham County.
- There is still time to evacuate, but area residents must be off the road before 10 p.m. The safest area for Chatham County residents to evacuate to at this point, given the trajectory of the storm, is the Statesboro, Ga. area.
- Police will cease evacuation operations at 8 p.m. this evening and will focus on security measures throughout the area.
- If sustained winds measure 39 mph at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, all first responders will be pulled from the street.
- Emergency management officials expect a 12-15 hour period of sustained 39 mph or higher winds, beginning at midnight tonight.
Armstrong's main campus in Savannah and the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville will remain closed through Tuesday, September 12, possibly longer. For your safety and protection, please do not attempt to return to campus until you receive instructions that it is safe to do so.
First responders and other emergency management personnel are currently utilizing parts of Armstrong's Savannah campus for staging operations. Only authorized security personnel will be permitted to enter campus until further notice.
We will continue to keep you updated. Please check your email and text messages, as well as Armstrong social media channels, for the latest information, including updates about when classes will start and when campus locations will re-open.
More information is available at Armstrong.edu/emergency.
An Important Message From President Frum About Hurricane Irma
(September 10, 2017, 9:55 am EDT)
To the Armstrong Community:
As we continue to closely monitor the path of Hurricane Irma, I would like to express my gratitude to the Armstrong community for such an orderly and timely evacuation. Your safety is -- and always will be -- our highest priority.
As mentioned in previous communications, Armstrong’s main campus in Savannah and the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville will remain closed through Tuesday, September 12. First responders and other emergency management personnel are currently utilizing parts of Armstrong’s Savannah campus for staging operations. Only authorized security personnel will be permitted to enter campus until further notice.
For your safety and protection, please do not attempt to return to campus until we provide you further instruction. We must allow campus security personnel time to ensure the campus is safe for our return. We will continue to keep you notified.
Hurricane Irma is a powerful and dangerous storm. Although the projected path of the storm has shifted to the west, Georgia’s coastal counties remain an area of vulnerability for potentially dangerous conditions, including high winds, coastal flooding and storm surges. Coastal Georgia is currently under a Hurricane Watch and a Tropical Storm Warning. The effects of Hurricane Irma are expected to begin tonight and to continue all day tomorrow.
Please continue to stay vigilant and make decisions that put your safety first. I have been extremely impressed by how the Armstrong students, faculty and staff have handled themselves during these unforeseen circumstances. Our hearts go out to individuals in Florida who are experiencing the full impact of Hurricane Irma.
Please continue to check your email and text messages, as well as Armstrong social media channels, for the latest updates, including information about when classes will start and when campus locations will re-open. Information about Hurricane Irma is available on the National Hurricane Center website and on the Chatham Emergency Management Agency website.
Please stay safe in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Jennifer L. Frum
President
Armstrong State University
Important Update Regarding Hurricane Irma
(September 9. 2017, 1:10 pm EDT)
Coastal Georgia is currently under a mandatory evacuation order as well as a Hurricane Watch, issued earlier today by the National Hurricane Center.
Please follow all evacuation orders and seek safe shelter. Potentially dangerous conditions due to Hurricane Irma include strong winds, coastal flooding and storm surges along the coast, as well as the possibility of tornadoes across the area.
This storm is extremely unpredictable, so it is important to take every precaution to ensure the safety of our campus community. Armstrong officials continue to monitor the path of the hurricane and to coordinate with local, state and federal agencies.
Armstrong's main campus in Savannah and the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville will remain closed through Tuesday, September 12. Only authorized security personnel will be permitted to enter campus until further notice. Please do not attempt to return to campus until you are instructed to do so.
Information about when classes will resume, residence halls will re-open and normal business operations will commence will be communicated through official Armstrong channels. Please continue to check text and email messages for updates and follow Armstrong on social media.
More information is available at Armstrong.edu/emergency.
Update Regarding Hurricane Irma Preparations, Evacuation
(September 8, 2017 - 4:25 pm EDT)
Armstrong State University officials are carefully monitoring the path of Hurricane Irma and remain in close contact with local, state and federal agencies. As we continue to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions due to Hurricane Irma, we would like to share a few updates with you:
- Armstrong’s main campus in Savannah and the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville have been secured and are currently closed. Both locations will remain closed through Tuesday, September 12. Only authorized security personnel will be permitted to enter campus until further notice.
- Earlier today, 22 residential students boarded a bus to Columbus State University, our sister institution, to seek shelter during Hurricane Irma. We are grateful to Columbus State for providing safe housing for our students.
- Beginning Saturday, September 9 at 8 a.m., all areas east of I-95 will be under a mandatory evacuation issued by Governor Nathan Deal. At that time, all lanes of I-16 will be in contraflow mode, with all traffic flowing westbound.
- Also beginning Saturday, September 9 at 8 a.m., Liberty County will be under a mandatory evacuation order.
Based on the latest National Hurricane Center projection for Hurricane Irma, the Category 4 storm poses a major threat to Georgia, with tropical force winds expected to affect coastal Georgia as early as Sunday evening. The storm’s exact path remains uncertain and is difficult to predict. Please be sure to follow all evacuation orders and seek safe shelter.
At this time, it is unclear exactly when classes will resume, residence halls will re-open and normal business operations will commence. Additional information will follow through official Armstrong channels, including BLAST messages, the Armstrong.edu/emergency web page, Facebook and Twitter. Please continue to check text and email messages for updates and to follow Armstrong on social media.
The safety of students, faculty and staff is our top priority at Armstrong. We will continue to monitor developments with Hurricane Irma closely and will issue further updates to keep you informed.
Additional Resources:
- Armstrong’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide
- Armstrong Emergency Information
- National Hurricane Center website
- Chatham Emergency Management Agency website
Important Announcement Regarding Campus Closure/Class Cancellation
(September 7, 2017 - 6:40 am EDT)
Based on the latest National Hurricane Center projection for Hurricane Irma, Armstrong's main campus in Savannah and the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville will close on Thursday, September 7 at 5 p.m.
All residential students must leave campus by 9 a.m. on Friday, September 8 as a precaution due to the storm. Residential students are advised to check their Armstrong email for additional instructions.
Classes will be canceled and campus will be closed Friday, September 8 through Tuesday, September 12. Special events are also canceled through Tuesday, September 12.
At this time, it is unclear when classes will resume, residence halls will re-open and normal business operations will commence. Additional information will follow. Please continue to check text and email messages for updates.
Also, be sure to review Armstrong's Hurricane Preparedness Guide, which includes helpful information for students, faculty and staff. Additional information about the storm is available on the National Hurricane Center website at and on the Chatham Emergency Management Agency website.
The safety of students, faculty and staff is our top priority at Armstrong. We will continue to monitor developments with Hurricane Irma closely and will issue further updates.
Additional information is available at Armstrong.edu/emergency or by calling Armstrong's Emergency Hotline at 912.344.2500.
Important Announcement Regarding Hurricane Irma
(September 5, 2017 - 3:42 pm EDT)
Armstrong officials are closely monitoring Hurricane Irma in the event that this Category 5 storm, which is currently located about 250 miles east of Antigua, poses a threat to the Georgia coast. As of now, it is too early to say with any certainty the exact path that Hurricane Irma will take in the coming days, but we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate updates to the campus community.
The safety of students, faculty and staff is our top priority.
Should this storm pose a threat to coastal Georgia, Armstrong will provide timely updates and information via email, text and phone messages using the BLAST emergency communications system. Please ensure your BLAST emergency contact information in Port of Armstrong is updated. Also, please familiarize yourself with Armstrong’s Hurricane
Please note that classes and activities at Armstrong’s main campus in Savannah and at the Armstrong Liberty Center in Hinesville are currently operating on a regular schedule. We will continue to monitor weather developments and will provide additional updates regarding any changes that might affect classes or campus operations.
Please continue to check your e-mail and text messages for important updates.
You can refer to the following resources for more information about Hurricane Irma:
Dial 912.344.2500 to obtain information and status updates during an emergency situation.
Dial 912.344.3333 to Report an On-Campus Emergency
Dial 911 to Report an Off-Campus Emergency
Armstrong State University is committed to the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors. This page is designed to offer handy information and timely resources to promote campus safety, provide guidance on emergency protocol and support disaster preparedness. In the event of a crisis on campus, announcements will be shared on this page.
