Campus fared well, resumed normal operations Saturday

No damage and no flooding were reported on the DeLand campus from Tropical Storm Nicole.

Stetson University’s Emergency Management Team and Policy Team are issuing this final update to the community. Keep up with the latest updates through your Stetson email, on Stetson Today and the Stetson University Facebook page

Update Friday, Nov. 11, noon

Duke Energy has fully restored power to the DeLand campus. Stetson will resume normal, on-campus operations, beginning Saturday.

• Stetson Dining already has resumed normal operations today at all Dining locations.

• The Hollis Center will reopen at noon today, but the pool will be closed until Tuesday.

• Athletic facilities are reopening today.

• The University Symphony Orchestra Concert will take place tonight at 7:30 in Lee Chapel, with Anthony Hose conducting and featuring the 2022 Concerto Competition Winners, Mitchell Parker, saxophone, and Olivia Corporon, violin. Tickets are free with a Stetson ID.

• The duPont-Ball Library will reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday.

This is the final update from Stetson’s Emergency Management Team.

Update Friday, Nov. 11, 7 a.m.

Lightning flashed as Tropical Storm Nicole churned toward Florida this week.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Duke Energy was unable to restore power fully to the DeLand campus by early this morning. As a result:

• All classes will remain online today.

• Students who face obstacles in attending online classes due to lack of internet or power should contact their faculty directly.

• Stetson will remain on a remote-work model today, with employees performing their functions remotely to the extent possible. 

• Employees who face challenges in working remotely due to child care issues, damage to their homes or other issues should communicate with their supervisor. Each situation is case specific, but supervisor flexibility and discretion are encouraged.

• Only essential personnel will report to work on campus today.

Stetson’s Emergency Management Team will issue another update when power is restored, and normal, on-campus operations can resume.

Update for Thursday, Nov. 10

The DeLand campus fared well during Tropical Storm Nicole. No damage and no flooding were reported. Small branches and other debris came down in spots, but roads and sidewalks are passable. Earlier this afternoon, Residential Living & Learning notified residential students that they no longer needed to shelter in place and could move throughout campus with due caution.

We have been in touch with Duke Energy. They have prioritized Stetson for repairs and we expect to have power fully restored by Friday morning. As a result:

• Academic buildings will be open on Friday and faculty will continue to have the flexibility to determine the most appropriate way to deliver their courses on Friday. Students will hear directly from their instructors about their Friday classes. 

• Regardless of the manner in which instruction occurs, some students may have obstacles to their attendance, such as lack of internet, power or available transportation. Students with challenges in attending class should contact their faculty directly.

• Stetson will resume normal, on-campus operations Friday morning, allowing employees to return to campus for work.

• Employees who face challenges returning to work due to child care issues, damage to their homes or other issues should communicate with their supervisor. Each situation is case specific, but supervisor flexibility and discretion are encouraged.

This is the final update for Tropical Storm Nicole from Stetson’s Emergency Management Team.

Update for Wednesday, Nov. 9

The DeLand campus is expected to begin feeling the impacts of Tropical Storm Nicole later this afternoon, with the strongest impacts projected between 10 p.m. tonight and noon Thursday. Strong tropical winds and 4 to 6 inches of rain are expected, before the storm moves away from our area about 8 p.m. Thursday. Keep up with the latest information about the storm from the National Hurricane Center

Already, Stetson has moved classes online through Thursday night. Facilities Management staff have secured the campus for the storm. And on-campus activities will switch to a remote model, where possible, beginning at 3 p.m. today, which will allow most employees to go home early. 

Residential Students

• Students remaining on campus are asked to shelter in place from 7 p.m. tonight until 6 p.m. Thursday in their residential building, regardless of whether they lose power. Or they can choose to shelter in place in the Lynn Business Center or Carlton Union Building, which both operate on generators when the power goes out.  

• If weather conditions improve earlier in the day Thursday, students will receive notice that they no longer need to shelter in place and can move throughout campus, using due caution. 

• Stetson Dining has updated its hours, below, and will provide students with snacks and other food while they shelter in place during the storm. 

Employees

• Due to the potential threat to safety, Stetson will switch to remote work from 3 p.m. today through Thursday. During this time, faculty are conducting instruction remotely and employees are asked to perform their functions remotely to the extent possible. 

• Only essential personnel will report to work on campus Thursday. 

• University offices will reopen on Friday, pending notice on Thursday evening about the state of electricity and campus facilities after the storm begins to leave. An update will be sent to the Stetson community by 6 p.m. Thursday, letting them know if offices will reopen and in-person classes will resume on Friday. 

Stetson Dining

• The Lynn Dining Commons will serve dinner today from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., giving students time to eat before sheltering in place beginning at 7 p.m. 

• Other dining locations, including the Coffee Shop, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Hatter StrEats, will close at 3 p.m. today and remain closed Thursday. 

• The Lynn Dining Commons will serve brunch Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

• Nonperishable food items, such as granola bars, Pop-Tarts, fruit, etc., will be provided to students who are sheltering in place. 

Other Important Information / Resources

• Access to campus buildings will be by card-swipe only beginning at 3 p.m. today until the campus returns to normal operations. 

• Stetson’s Office of Public Safety has relocated to Room 429 in the Lynn Business Center, which has a generator in case the power goes out. Public Safety can be reached 24/7 by phone at 386-822-7300.  

• Volusia County has imposed a countywide curfew beginning at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 9, through 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10.

• Volusia County Schools and Volusia County Government opened four shelters at 10 a.m. today. All four shelters will accept pets. Those staying at a shelter with their pets must bring necessary pet items and supplies. 

General population shelters are open at

• Creekside Middle School, 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange 

• University High School, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave., Orange City
       
Special needs shelters are open at: 

• Heritage Middle School, 1001 Parnell Court, Deltona 

• David C. Hinson Middle School, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach 

• For more information about shelters, evacuations and other resources, please visit the Volusia County Citizens Information Center.  

Stetson’s Emergency Management Team will meet Thursday at 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. An update will be issued by 6 p.m. with information on the state of the campus and resuming on-campus activities Friday. 

Update for Tuesday, Nov. 8:

Tropical Storm Nicole has strengthened in the past 24 hours and is projected to impact our area Wednesday afternoon through Thursday night. Sustained winds of more than 40 mph are expected with 5 to 8 inches of rain. For the latest information about the storm, please check the National Hurricane Center.

Classes / Residence Halls

• All classes will move online beginning at noon Wednesday through Thursday night.

• Students will be allowed to remain on campus in the residential buildings. But they will be required to shelter in place in their residential building for the duration of the storm, regardless of whether they lose power. Or students can choose to shelter in place in the Lynn Business Center or Carlton Union Building, which both operate on generators when the power goes out. More information will be shared about these plans on Wednesday. 

• Students who can safely return home or shelter with family or friends elsewhere may be more comfortable doing so and are always encouraged to make their own decisions for their own safety.   

University Offices / Working hours

• Stetson will close offices and end the workday Wednesday at 3 p.m., allowing employees to go home early. 

• Employees who face challenges with child care or other issues may leave earlier Wednesday, but they should communicate with their supervisor. Each situation is case specific, but supervisor flexibility and discretion are encouraged after noontime Wednesday.

• University offices will be closed for business on Thursday. Only essential personnel will report to work on campus.

• University offices will reopen on Friday, pending notice on Thursday evening about the state of electricity and campus facilities after the storm passes. An update will be sent to the Stetson community by 6 p.m. Thursday, letting them know if offices will reopen and in-person classes will resume on Friday.

Other important information

• Stetson’s Office of Public Safety will relocate Wednesday by 10 a.m. to Room 429 of the Lynn Business Center, which has a generator in case the power goes out. Public Safety can be reached 24/7 by phone at 386-822-7300. 

• Stetson’s Emergency Management Team will meet again Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and issue an update by 4 p.m.

Update for Monday, Nov. 7

At this point, the storm is projected to impact our area Wednesday and Thursday, with wind gusts up to 20-25 mph and rainfall of 4 to 6 inches. Outdoor events planned for Wednesday and Thursday should consider alternative or backup locations. 

The Emergency Management Team will meet again tomorrow and issue another update by 3 p.m. Updates will be sent to your Stetson email and posted on Stetson Today and the Stetson University Facebook page.