August 26, 2020
The National Hurricane Center’s forecast now indicates the worst effects of Hurricane Laura will occur to the east of the Houston area. Nonetheless, the latest National Weather Service emergency management briefing for the Houston area indicates that, although rainfall is not expected to cause flash flooding in our vicinity, we can expect tropical storm force winds around the Rice campus overnight. (Go to emergency.rice.edu to review the most recent weather briefings from the National Weather Service.)
As a reminder, the university is suspending normal operations – including all classes, meetings and events -- at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, and all day Thursday, Aug. 27. This suspension includes not only classes conducted on campus, but also classes conducted remotely.
Students with valid parking permits who are currently parking on campus may begin moving their vehicles to Cambridge Office Building parking structure after 5 p.m. today.
While the expected impact of the hurricane in our area now appears less severe than it did 24 hours ago, it is still a substantial and dangerous storm. All of the campus preparations for a hurricane are in place, including the activation of the emergency command center. Ride-out teams of essential personnel will be in place later today and remain here for the duration of the storm.
Also, we want to remind everyone that all gated entrances to the campus will be closed at 5 p.m. with the exception of Entrance 8 (at the intersection of University Boulevard and Stockton Drive) and Entrance 20 (at the intersection of Rice Boulevard and Kent Street.) Any non-essential personnel except for students living in residential colleges should leave the campus by 6 p.m.
No decision has been made on whether normal operations and classes will resume on Friday.
All emergency issues should be reported to RUPD at 713-348-6000. All non-emergency situations can be reported to the virtual Emergency Command Center at 713-348-3221.
Our next communication, which may include a shelter indoors order for students and employees on campus, will be released early this evening.
Rice Crisis Management Team