SU System announces closures, activates emergency plans for Isaac

As South Louisiana prepares for inclement weather from Isaac, a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico that is forecast to become a hurricane, campuses of the Southern University System (SUS) have activated their Emergency Preparedness Teams and have begun preparations to ensure the safety of our students and staff and the SU community.

Southern University New Orleans (SUNO) has cancelled all classes as of noon today. Business operations at the University will be suspended at 4:30 p.m. SUNO expects to remain closed through Wednesday, August 29, anticipating classes resuming on Thursday, August 30. SUNO plans to evacuate approximately 90 mostly international students currently living in its residential facilities to Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR).

Southern University Baton Rouge announced the cancellation of classes on Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29. Tonight's SUBR classes, however, are still scheduled. The University will make a decision sometime Wednesday on whether to hold classes on Thursday, August 30.

The Southern University Law Center (SULC) has cancelled evening classes for tonight. SULC classes have been cancelled for Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29. A decision will be made Wednesday on whether to resume classes on Thursday, August 30.

Southern University System and SU Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SU Ag Center) offices will be closed Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29, and will reopen as soon as conditions are favorable. All SU Ag Center livestock have been secured and provided for.

All SUS students, faculty, and staff are asked to monitor their University email accounts, the University's social media sites, and local news to get updates concerning classes and announcements. Regular updates and announcements regarding any developments related to the storm will be provided via e-mail, on our website (www.sus.edu), and via social and local media.

Students who commute and live in parts of the state that are under a Tropical Storm Warning are advised to follow the advice of Governor Jindal and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security regarding voluntary evacuation. Please click on: http://www.gohsep.la.gov/ for more information about Tropical Storm Isaac. Safe housing and arrangements will be made for all students and residents on the Baton Rouge campus.

The University encourages everyone to take all safety precautions available when leaving and entering campus. Students who will be remaining on campus are urged not to venture outside during the storm.

SUBR will operate an Emergency Operations Center in 218 J.B. Moore Hall. Call 225.771.4500 in case of emergency.

Please follow precautions and measures for safety before, during, and after the storm. Listed below are websites for additional information:

Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness http://www.gohsep.la.gov/

Get a Game Plan (GOHSEP) http://www.getagameplan.org/

Board of Regents http://www.regents.doa.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=homepage&tmp=home&pnid=0&nid=1

National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Louisiana State Police http://www.lsp.org/

City of New Orleans http://new.nola.gov/ready