To see a video on the administrator’s meeting, click here.
University officials from across campus met Thursday to discuss progress in preparation for Tropical Storm Gustav.Decisions concerning possible University closures will be made early this afternoon. The decision, which can only be made by the chancellor or the provost, will be aimed at the safety of students and faculty.As Gustav moves closer, the University, led by the Emergency Operations Center, is taking necessary steps to prepare for the storm’s landfall.Departments like Residential Life and LSU Dining Services are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.Regardless of where Gustav makes landfall, residence halls and campus apartments will remain open. Kristine Calongne, University spokeswoman, said on-campus residences are a safe place for students to seek shelter during a hurricane. Students on campus will be cared for by the University, Calongne said.Steve Waller, director of ResLife, said the department traditionally begins preparations for pending hurricanes 72 hours before they are set to make landfall.”We have a protocol and a timeline to start that,” Waller said. “We don’t like to start it too early because it may be unnecessary.” Waller said ResLife traditionally meets with students in the days leading up to the hurricane to                   determine the number of students staying in residence halls.”From our standpoint, if classes were canceled on Tuesday that would probably help us,” Waller said. Waller said the assumption of a four-day weekend would tempt students to return to their homes.Eric Monday, interim vice chancellor of Student Life, said power outages and server crashes will not prevent students from being fed and cared for. When Tiger Cash goes offline, workers will start copying down students’ names and ID numbers to grant entrance into the dining hall.Monday said the University’s primary focus would be accommodating students.”During Katrina, we fed students in the dining hall that didn’t even have meal plans,” Calongne said. “We sort of go above and beyond the usual routine.”Additionally, Monday made assurances the University will be well-stocked with water bottles.Tiger Stadium is currently stocked with 200,000 water bottles in preparation for the upcoming game. After the game, 100,000 water bottles should be in stock.Colorado Robertson, Student Government president, said the University is adequately prepared for Gustav’s arrival.”The EOC is ready to stand up whenever the chancellor makes a decision,” Robertson said. “The chancellor has a firm grasp on the situation.”Robertson said, while the       University needs volunteers, those planning on helping should register at www.lsu.edu/hurricane rather than show up to volunteer. Robertson said administrative deadlines, such as the final day to drop and add classes, will be pushed back in the event of cancellations.Gustav is forecasted to make landfall Tuesday in central Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane. Though the margin of error could put the storm anywhere between Corpus Christi, Texas and Apalachicola, Florida, experts predict a landfall near Morgan City, said Barry Keim, Louisiana State Climatologist. Keim predicted the state will begin to feel the effects of the storm late Sunday or early Monday.Dane Dartez, research associate with the LSU Hurricane Center, said Gustav is forecasted to make landfall in St. Mary or Terrebonne parishes. “They’re due south of the Atchafaylaya Basin, which is between Lafayette and Baton Rouge,” Dartez said. “The storm will make landfall and head toward the Lafayette region.”Dartez cautioned the storm could change its trajectory as the tropical storm speeds up or slows down.”Baton Rouge will be something like you’ve never seen before,” said Arthur Goulas, Student Health Center representative.—-Contact Lindsey Meaux at [email protected]