We have moved to a twice-a-day schedule for updates – especially since we only just now received all the information we needed for today’s second update!

Tropical Storm Harvey has shifted farther to the east. Less rain is in the forecast, and roads on and around the perimeter of campus are currently open.

The number of responses to the needs-assessment survey now exceeds 5,900 – which is phenomenal. We have a great team of students who are helping us make sense of the data. Tomorrow we will share with you some interesting maps. Even if you are okay and haven't experienced any storm-related problems, we need to hear from you. If you have not yet completed the needs assessment, or if you need to update your status, please click here: https://emergency.rice.edu/needs-assessment.

One thing we learned from the needs assessment is that some people need temporary housing, and others want to open their homes to displaced Owls. In response, we have built a temporary housing matching tool. If you need temporary housing, or if you have temporary housing to offer, please click here: https://emergency.rice.edu/temporary-housing-match.

We have also formed a response hub, the Rice Harvey Action Team (R-HAT), for coordinating and supporting volunteers who want to help on campus or in the Houston community, both immediately and for the near-term. Interested volunteers and organizations in need of support should email helphouston@rice.edu. R-HAT is a collaborative partnership among the Center for Civic Leadership, the Student Association, the Graduate Student Association and the Doerr Institute for New Leaders. R-HAT is already operational, supporting a shift of “Night Owls” in the Brown Convention Center this evening.

Some status updates/reminders:

• The university will remain closed through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4.
• The Rec Center will be open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for Rice students, staff and faculty only. A Rice ID is required for entry.
• Fondren Library will be open tonight until 8, Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m., and Thursday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for Rice students, staff and faculty only. A Rice ID is required for entry.
• All four serveries (North, South, West and Seibel) will be open Wednesday through Labor Day for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. This is for undergraduates and essential personnel only.
• Updates have been posted to the list of buildings on campus that have experienced weather-related issues and can be viewed here: https://emergency.rice.edu/news/key-issues-happening-around-campus. If you do not see the building about which you are concerned, no problems have been found at that location.
• Student Health Services will be available 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for sick or injured students on a walk-in basis. Questions can also be posed via hlsv@rice.edu.
• The grocery shopping shuttle for residents of the Rice Graduate Apartments and Rice Village Apartments will run Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The floodgates at the BRC Garage have been removed, so students, faculty and staff who parked there last week before the storm can access their cars.

Tonight as I was walking home, I saw something joyful: blue sky! Let's hope that's a good sign of what tomorrow will bring.

As always, please send questions or concerns to: cmtcomment@rice.edu.

Marie Lynn Miranda
Provost

Kevin Kirby
Vice President for Administration
Chair of the Crisis Management Team