Some tips for keeping your stuff safe during inclement weather:

Check http://emergency.duke.edu/ for official status updates about inclement weather. News about canceled classes or canceled major events will be posted on the emergency website.

• Close and lock your windows to minimize any dribbles of water that may seep in and soak your walls and window sills.
• If your room has window unit air conditioner, close the vent to decrease the ability for water to enter the room. Consider putting a towel underneath the unit as well to absorb any other water that gets through. We also suggest unplugging the unit until the storm has passed.
• Pick your stuff up off the floor, especially electronic devices. In the event that you do get some rain in your room from an open window or other means, the water tends to soak into the carpet or spread quickly across the wood floors. We recommend that you move computer towers, TVs/DVD players, cell phones, etc to an elevated place in your room (such as on your desktop or dresser).
• Pull your furniture an inch or two away from the walls to prevent condensation or leaks from soaking your belongings.
• Report any leaks to your RA right away! Horizontal rain behaves differently than normal vertical rain and may find a crack that does not normally impact the building.
• Some of the rain may be heavy at times and our storm drains may need a little time to catch up so please let a staff member know if you notice any large puddles of water near the buildings.
• The recent drought has weakened many of the tree limbs around campus. Windy conditions could make some of these branches susceptible to falling. Be cautious when walking underneath trees and report to DUPD any limbs or trees that appear to be in danger of falling.
• Stay attentive to the weather report. In the event that the need for more drastic measures develops (such as evacuation), more information will be made available via university communications (email, websites, or postings).

Remember to stay safe!

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 2:54 pm and is filed under 2012 Parents, General Info. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.