Baton Rouge residents and the LSU community are outraged after Tuesday’s storm failed to bring forth the Rapture.
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued an uncommon “moderate risk” of severe weather for the Baton Rouge community via carrier pigeon on Monday.
The storm was expected to include damaging winds akin to the fans Beyonce uses for live performances, large hail the size of eco-friendly vehicles and violent tornadoes.
After virtually shutting down the city, officials and residents are disappointed by the storm’s lack of destruction in East Baton Rouge Parish.
To address concerns over the government being too prepared for imminent disaster, Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden held an emergency press conference Thursday.
“We were prepared for worst case scenario. Every school in the parish was shut down,” Holden said. “All we got were scattered showers. This ain’t Seattle!”
LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College all canceled afternoon classes due to legal liabilities as well. These cancellations differ from the stance local universities took on the severe flooding Baton Rouge faced this October.
The cancellation of classes prompted bars in Tigerland to offer drink specials to thirsty students looking to get wasted before 3 p.m. The specials were met with praise as students and troubled adults flocked to Tigerland to avoid their problems.
The University’s decision to cancel classes over this week’s storm upset many students after their experiences with the fall semester’s flood.
The flooding forced many students to kayak to campus due to classes not being cancelled. Many students faced treacherous obstacles and flooded roads in order to make it to class.
Local white female and mass communication sophomore Caitie Burkes even abandoned her car on a flooded Burbank Drive in a desperate attempt to get to class.
“I was trying to get to econ, but my car totally got flooded,” Burkes said. “I remember considering giving up and just turning around, but then I remembered I needed to use my clicker for participation points.
“I’m annoyed LSU cancelled classes over rain. I was forced to swim through sewage last fall,” Burkes said in outrage.
LSU Student Government planned to hold a town hall to address students concerned with the University’s cancellation criteria. Unfortunately, the town hall is expected to be cancelled due to impending budget cuts.
John Gavin Harp is a 20-year-old mass communication junior. student from St. Francisville, Louisiana.

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Zoe Geauthreaux

The University's campus remains largely empty following class cancellations and severe weather warnings on Tuesday Feb. 23, 2016.