Snowstorm
University announces changes, cancellations due to winter storm
Editor's note: This article was updated at 8:15 a.m., Jan. 24.
4:22 p.m., Jan. 22, 2016--The University of Delaware has announced changes and cancelations due to the winter storm that is expected to dump up to 24 inches of snow in northern Delaware in blizzard conditions beginning Friday evening, Jan. 22.
According to the National Weather Service, heavy snow is expected to begin this afternoon and continue into Sunday, with accumulation of 18 to 24 inches estimated in New Castle County. Totals are predicted between 12 to 18 inches in Kent County, and between 4 and 8 inches in Sussex County, with flooding along the shore and in the inland bays.
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The leading edge of the storm is expected to reach the Newark campus around 5 p.m., with precipitation continuing into Sunday and sustained winds of 30-45 miles per hours with gusts into the 60s along the coast.
The city of Newark has declared a snow emergency effective at 12:01 a.m., Saturday. In order to keep snow emergency routes clear for Public Works plow crews, residents and businesses on snow emergency routes must remove all vehicles to avoid being towed. For more information, refer to the city of Newark website.
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell issued a state of emergency, effective at 5 p.m., Jan. 22, and a “Level 1 Driving Warning” effective Saturday, Jan. 23. According to state law, a “Level 1 Driving Warning” means that any person operating a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways must exercise extra caution. All nonessential employees, public and private, are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle unless there is a significant safety, health or business reason to do so. On Saturday, Jan. 23, Markell issued a “Level 2 Driving Restriction” in New Castle and Kent counties. Under a “Level 2 Driving Restriction,” no person may operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways, except for persons designated as “essential personnel” or who have received a waiver from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.
Schedule changes
Athletics has announced that Delaware Swimming and Diving vs. Villanova scheduled at 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 24, has been canceled, and Delaware Women's Basketball vs. William & Mary, scheduled at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25, has been postponed until 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26.
The UDairy Creamery will remain closed Sunday.
The University has announced that the Trabant University Center and Perkins Student Center will close at 5 p.m., Friday, and will remain closed Saturday and Sunday. The student centers are scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m., Monday, Jan. 25.
Residence halls and dining facilities, already operating on a Winter Session schedule, will remain open. The two P.O.D. Market locations at Pencader and Harrington residence hall complexes will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. throughout the weekend.
UD shuttle buses are scheduled to end in the early morning hours Saturday, but may stop sooner as the weather deteriorates. The buses will be back on the road when safety allows.
Student Health Services will be open throughout the weekend with staff members on site at all times.
Students who feel snowbound can find recreational opportunities at the Carpenter Sports Building, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Members are encouraged to register for the Campus Recreation email list to receive updates on changes to hours at the Carpenter Sports Building (Little Bob), with the email registration form available online. Updates will also be posted on the Campus Recreation website, Facebook, and Twitter.
The UD Ice Arenas are scheduled to close at 9 p.m., Friday, through Saturday. They will remain closed on Sunday, Jan. 24.
The Morris Library will be open regular hours on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 1-5 p.m., but only for study with no library services that day. On Sunday, Jan. 24, the Morris Library will be open regular hours, from 1-9 p.m.
The UD Barnes and Noble Bookstore, including the Blue Hen Café, will be open from noon-6 p.m., Sunday.
With state driving restrictions still in place, the Resident Ensemble Players' performance of Wait Until Dark at 2 p.m., Sunday, has been canceled. Box office representatives will contact current season ticket holders early next week to reschedule to an upcoming performance.
To submit information for inclusion in this list, send email to publicaffairs@udel.edu.
Keep in touch
Any campuswide UD closings or late openings will be announced through a campuswide email and via the University's LiveSafe smartphone application, as well as posted on the UD homepage, UDaily and the University's primary social media accounts (www.facebook.com/UDelaware, www.twitter.com/UDelaware, www.facebook.com/UniversityofDelawarePolice and www.Twitter.com/udelpolice).
News also will be available through the UD telephone information line at 302-831-2000, and it will be shared on the state Department of Education's School Closings and Delays website.
Members of the campus community should not call UD Police so that telephone lines there can remain open for emergency calls.
Information on preparing for a winter storm is available on the Ready.gov website.
Personal safety
The University's policy is reprinted below:
Faculty and students are not expected to take unnecessary risks to meet their teaching and learning obligations due to inclement weather. When classes have not been canceled, it is a matter of personal judgment whether traveling to campus is hazardous. Faculty should notify their departmental offices when weather precludes them from meeting their teaching obligations; similarly, students should notify their professors when inclement weather precludes them from class attendance. In such cases, students should be allowed to make up missed class time and, whenever possible, canceled classes should be rescheduled.