Q: What happens when a hurricane is forecasted for the Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach campus?

A: Daytona Beach convenes an Emergency Operations Team (EOT) made up of Embry-Riddle leadership that includes the following organizations:

  • IT
  • Human Resources
  • Worldwide Campus
  • Dining Services
  • Aviation & Occupational Safety
  • Student Affairs
  • Meteorology
  • Housing/Residence Life
  • Operations
  • Campus Safety & Security
  • Facilities
  • Academic Affairs
  • Communications
  • Flight

The EOT is overseen by the senior vice president and chief operating officer and includes a professor of meteorology who has been advising the campus on the potential impacts of hurricanes and severe weather for over 20 years.

After the EOT has been convened, senior leadership will make the decision to implement the Hurricane Plan and whether or not classes will be cancelled; campus will be closed; and/or students will shelter in place or evacuate.

Q: How are announcements of campus closures and/or evacuations made to students?

A: Announcements are communicated through the following channels:

  • University Communications Email
  • Housing and Residence Life Email
  • Special Storm Updates Page on the ERAU Website
  • ERNIE (the Embry-Riddle Intranet)
  • RAVE Mobile Safety Application
  • The Eagle Guardian Application
  • On-Campus Door-to-Door Contact by Housing and Residence Life
  • Embry-Riddle’s Social Media Channels

Embry-Riddle will communicate information as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. Please note that in the event of an extended power outage or if cellular towers are compromised, communication can be delayed which is why emergency plans are crucial to both students and the university.

Q: This hurricane season is forecasted to be more severe than most. How is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, preparing?

A: Associate Professor of Meteorology, Dr. Randell Barry has been monitoring the hurricane season in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and observing potential disturbances as they arise. A part of the campus Emergency Operations Team (EOT), Dr. Barry advises on the formation of the EOT and next steps for student, facility and campus precautions.

Q: What precautions does Embry-Riddle take in keeping students, faculty and staff safe?

A: Every Embry-Riddle student on the Daytona Beach campus is required to create and update an individual personal evacuation plan. We strongly recommend students share that plan with friends and family to ensure they know how to connect with their loved ones.

The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our number one priority. The university will likely err on the side of caution when deciding whether to cancel classes and/or close the university.

Students living on-campus are required to input evacuation information as part of their application; this information can and should be reviewed and updated in the event of changes throughout the school year.

If a Category 1 hurricane is imminent, Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus may be closed and may evacuate, if a threat is present. In the case of a Category 2 through 5 storm, it’s highly likely campus will be evacuated in conjunction with the Volusia County Department of Emergency Management.

Emergency updates will be sent out through email and posted to the Embry-Riddle external website, and the university’s intranet, as well as sent out through social media and the RAVE Mobile Safety application, to which all students have access. In the case of a notification to shelter in place, the Department of Housing and Residence Life will collect information on student location. In the case of an evacuation, members of the Department of Housing and Residence Life will go door-to-door on campus to account for all students.

Embry-Riddle works closely with Volusia County to determine evacuation locations.

Embry-Riddle will communicate information as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. Please note that in the event of an extended power outage or if cellular towers are compromised, communication can be delayed which is why emergency plans are crucial to both students and the university.

Students should stay in close contact with family members throughout severe weather and communicate any updates to family members as soon as possible.

Q: How does Embry-Riddle keep off-campus students safe?

A: Like our on-campus students, off-campus students are encouraged to create and update personal evacuation plans and share those plans with friends and family. Off-campus students also have the option to evacuate with on-campus students, if no other alternative plans have been identified.

Embry-Riddle also employs the Eagle Guardian app, an application that turns any smartphone into a personal safety device for students, faculty and staff, whether they are on or off campus. While the technology can be used in various emergency scenarios, in the event of a hurricane or an evacuation, students can add friends and family members to their network to share updates and location information.

Q: If my off-campus student has nowhere to go during a hurricane, can he/she come on campus?

A: If an off-campus student needs to evacuate to a local shelter, the university can transport that student, along with any on-campus students, to a dedicated local shelter. If a shelter-in-place notification is issued and an off-campus student needs facilities, the off-campus student should report to a local shelter or shelter at another suitable and safe location off campus.

Shelter locations in and around Daytona Beach will be posted here: Shelter information (volusia.org).

Q: I am an off-campus student who has no power. Can I come to campus during severe weather?

A: If campus is open and operational, all off-campus students are invited to the Mori Hosseini Student Union to utilize dining services, access to the internet and WiFi. They can also use the facilities at the Eagle Fitness Center for personal needs. Off-campus students MUST bring their EagleCard as identification. Students should monitor university updates for information on when it is safe to access campus and/or any local curfews that might be in effect that would prohibit or prevent safe travel.

Q: If campus is closed and students are required to shelter in place, will they have access to food and supplies?

A: Yes. Embry-Riddle works closely with its food and facilities management provider, Sodexo, to ensure provisions are provided for all students.

Q: What does Embry-Riddle do with its fleet of planes during a hurricane?

A: Embry-Riddle houses 98 planes at its Daytona Beach campus and has a standing agreement with institutions and facilities to transfer and safeguard the planes during severe weather.

The university also has the ability to house at least some of its fleet in the parking structure at the edge of campus and will look to augment this capability in the future.

It should be noted that due to coordination and logistics, evacuation of the fleet may take place prior to campus evacuation/closure.

Q: Will Embry-Riddle give updates to parents on the locations of individual students.

A: Because Embry-Riddle has over 8,000 students enrolled at the Daytona Beach residential campus, it is impossible to give an update on individual students. We encourage all parents and students to discuss their hurricane preparation plan ahead of time and plan ways to stay connected during severe weather.

Q: I am worried about missing class. Will I be penalized if I don’t return to campus in time for the re-instatement of classes?

A: Safety is our number-one priority. Students should return to class when they feel it is safe. Faculty and staff will work with students individually to catch up on any classes missed due to unavoidable travel delays.

To report a travel delay, contact your individual professors as well as the Daytona Beach Dean of Students Office at dbdos@erau.edu or 386-226-6326 when the campus is once again fully operational.

Q: What if I have additional questions?

A: For any individual questions, please contact the office of the Dean of Students by emailing dbdos@erau.edu or calling 386-226-6326 when the campus is once again fully operational.

Q: What else can students and parents do to prepare for a potential hurricane?

A: Review the Embry-Riddle Hurricane Preparation information that’s updated on a regular basis, and also take personal responsibility for safety. The following additional resources are available to help you prepare: