Hurricane Harvey

The University’s Emergency Management Team has continued to monitor National Weather Service (NWS) reports for Hurricane Harvey (downgraded to a tropical storm) throughout the day, with the primary goal to maintain the safety of our campus for students, faculty and staff.

According to the NWS, “Tropical Storm Harvey will meander over southeast Texas through the middle of next week. This slow movement will produce days of heavy rain over the same area. Storm totals will exceed 20 inches [of rain] in many areas with isolated locations approaching 40 inches. This will produce devastating flooding. Numerous Flash Flood Warnings are in effect.”

Everything on campus is operational at this time, with only a few minor tree limbs down. We continue to encourage anyone on campus to exercise extreme caution, as wind gusts of up to 40 mph have the potential to blow debris around. Our UPD officers will continue to walk the campus and check facilities throughout the weekend, looking for any additional storm-related issues/damage.

At this time, the University is scheduled to be open for business as usual on Monday morning. If we decide to delay opening or close the University on Monday, we will notify you through JagE Alerts, the University’s Hurricane Harvey News Page, our social media channels (Facebook/Twitter), the Info Hotline (210-784-1111) and local news outlets.

To sign up for JagE Alerts, please visit the A&M-SA PD website here or you can download the iPhone or Android app and sign up using your official University email.

We know that many of you are watching the weather forecasts and are anxious about the weekend ahead. The University’s Emergency Management Team is carefully monitoring all developments and preparing to maintain the safety of our campus for students, faculty and staff. 

The National Weather Service report at 1 p.m. today showed the San Antonio metro area could experience 8-10 inches of heavy rainfall, likely beginning early Saturday morning and possibly continuing until Tuesday. We could also experience 40-50 mph winds, with the potential for gusts in excess of 60 mph. We have advised our students on campus this weekend to stay inside, to stay on campus and to not drive around San Antonio.

Following are updates regarding operations and activities on campus this weekend:

• The official move-in day for transfer and upper-division students tomorrow (Sat) has been canceled.
• Student Business Services and Enrollment Management Offices (Advising, Welcome Center, Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid and Military Affairs) will not be open tomorrow (Sat).
• In addition, the Bookstore and Library will be closed.
• The Cafeteria will be open to take care of residential students.
• The first-floor computer lab in the Central Academic Building (CAB) and computers outside the Library will be accessible to students.

As of Friday afternoon, the University is scheduled to be open for business as usual on Monday morning. If we decide to delay opening or close the University on Monday, we will notify you through JagE Alerts, the University’s Hurricane Harvey News Page, our social media channels (Facebook/Twitter), the Info Hotline (210-784-1111) and local news outlets.

To sign up for JagE Alerts, please visit the A&M-SA PD website here or you can download the iPhone or Android app and sign up using your official University email.

Current weather forecasts show that Harvey could be a category 3 hurricane by the time it reaches landfall. While the San Antonio metro areas will experience 8-10 inches of heavy rainfall, some isolated areas could receive up to 10-12 inches. The heaviest rainfall is predicted to hit this area on Saturday morning around 8 a.m. and should continue through Monday. 

If conditions should change, we will send out more information.  If an emergency should arise such as a tornado, a JagE Alert will be sent out.  To sign up for JagE Alerts, please visit the A&M-SA PD website here or you can download the iPhone or Android app and sign up using your official University email. You can also find the University’s Emergency Action Plans here.  If the University should need to close or re-schedule events, you can monitor local news outlets, A&M-SA website, various A&M-SA social media outlets (Facebook/Twitter) or call the Weather Hotline at 210-784-1111. If you live in Esperanza Hall, contact Ms. Alexis Ruiz by email at aruiz@tamusa.edu or by phone at 210-784-1717 with any questions you have.

As for the A&M-SA Campus, we have experienced heavy rainfall in the past.  There may be some areas where water accumulates in parking lots, or seeps through door cracks/jams on the ground-level floors.  If you should experience any leaks or excessive water accumulations, please contact Facilities at 210-784-2100 or submit a work order. Historically, we have not experienced any flooding that has ever caused us to stop normally scheduled operations/classes.

What to expect Friday night/Saturday morning:

• 40-50 mph winds in moderate threat area beginning most likely Saturday morning.
• Potential for gusts in excess of 60 mph.
• Damage to trees, power lines and some minor roof damage possible, especially in moderate threat area.

Basic tips to follow:

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
• Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters.
• Do not drive over bridges that are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour foundation material from around the footings and make the bridge unstable.
• Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.