This page contains the latest severe weather information from ASMS.
Hurricane Ida Update 5, August 30
Dear ASMS Community,
This will be the last message related to Hurricane Ida.
At this time, classes will resume on campus tomorrow,Tuesday, August 31st, following the traditional in-person method. Any off-campus students who can safely return to campus should do so as soon as possible. Students who are not able to return should notify Student Affairs and also contact their instructors about next steps.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
Best,
ASMS Leadership Team
Update from Campus 6 - August 30
All is well on the ASMS campus. We are experiencing light rain, and we still have power. The students are up and about. Classes are being conducted online and asynchronously today. Please be sure your student is checking their e-mail and Blackbaud for messages from their instructors.
Also, please continue to be weather-aware today. Although the storm made landfall in Louisiana, we are expecting rain bands throughout the day, and according to the radar, some stormier weather may be interspersed. There is a low to moderate risk of tornadoes and a significant concern about flash flooding due to the amount of rain.
Update from Campus 5 - August 29
A different student burned noodles on the second floor of the boys’ dorm. The emergency alarm sounded once more. There is no emergency on campus, and it is not related to the weather.
Students are not permitted to use microwaves tonight. In the future, read the cooking directions when microwaving foods. Microwave noodle meals require the addition of water. We want to be sure that the fire department is not coming to campus for unnecessary reasons, and we want to be good stewards of their time and services. This is especially true during a pandemic and storm.
Thank you.
Update from Campus 4 - August 29
The campus is still experiencing light rain and mild wind conditions. The Mobile area could experience heavier rain and winds during the next few hours, judging by radar predictions. Students were asked to remain in the rooms as we addressed the rain bands and fire department. The cafe has prepared a grab and go dinner for students to pick up between 4:30pm and 5:30pm.
Our thoughts are with the people in Louisiana who are enduring the brunt of Hurricane Ida.
Update from Campus 3 - August 29
ASMS Community,
Someone burned noodles on the first floor of the girl’s dorm. The emergency alarm sounded, and the fire department arrived on campus. It is a false alarm. There is no emergency on campus, and it is not related to the weather. Thank you.
Best,
The Leadership Team
Update from Campus 2 - August 29
ASMS is experiencing light rain and extremely mild wind conditions. Hurricane Ida will make landfall soon south of New Orleans, Louisiana. We expect to encounter heavier rain and wind throughout the day and into the night as the storm's bands reach Mobile, and it travels into Louisiana. Staff members are telling students to charge up their devices now and periodically to prepare for anticipated power outages.
Update from Campus 1 - August 29
It is very calm on campus. Rain has started, and heavier rain is on the way. A few students are eating in the cafe. Staff have distributed more lanterns, and the cafe is planning for power to be out later by preparing food just in case.
Hurricane Ida Update 4, August 29
Dear ASMS Community,
We are reaching out with a quick update regarding Hurricane Ida and information about how you can stay informed.
Forecast
Hurricane Ida has strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it heads toward landfall along the Louisiana coast in just a few hours. Conditions are beginning to deteriorate this morning, and this is expected to continue throughout the day and into tomorrow. Mobile will be impacted by heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds, resulting in power outages.
Students on Campus
We have learned that some homes in the Mobile area already have power flickering. Students should go ahead and prepare for power outages on the ASMS campus with flashlights, backup chargers, etc. They can also speak with their hall staff members about the location of emergency lanterns and weather radios for their hall. As a reminder, we do not have access to backup generator power, so we will have to wait on power to be restored to city power lines if it goes out on campus. Several ASMS Leadership Team members are on campus and will be for the duration of the storm.
Mobile is under a Tornado Watch, so all community members on campus should be ready to shelter in place away from windows if the Severe Weather Alarm is sounded.
Storm Updates from Campus
As is feasible, we will aim to send any important updates via email or text. We will also try to periodically post updates about how the campus is doing and weather conditions in that area on our severe weather website page.
If you have additional concerns, please call the main number for the school, 251.441.2100. The safety and security of our students will continue to be our priority.
Sincerely,
The ASMS Leadership Team
Hurricane Ida Update 3, August 28 - morning
Dear ASMS Community,
The Leadership Team met this morning to discuss Hurricane Ida. We have decided we will not evacuate the campus.
Forecast
As of this morning, all track guidance remains in agreement that Ida will make landfall on the southeastern or central Louisiana coast late Sunday or early Monday morning. We were concerned that Ida would change course and track to the east toward Mobile, but no forecasters are predicting that trajectory. Mobile is currently under a Tropical Storm Watch. We anticipate that Mobile will be impacted by heavy rain and strong winds, resulting in power outages.
Students Who Are Currently Off-Campus
If you are a student who left campus this weekend, we recommend staying home to weather the storm. However, if you are returning to campus, you need to return to campus by this evening, Saturday, August 28, at 8:00 p.m. Otherwise, it would be best if you remained home.
Students Leaving Campus
Families uncomfortable with their student(s) staying on campus during what could be inclement weather have the option for them to return home. Any students who choose to go home should leave campus by 8:00 p.m. today, Saturday, August 28.
Students Staying on Campus
Students who stay on campus should expect power outages and unfavorable weather conditions. We do not have access to backup generator power, so we will have to wait on power to be restored to city power lines if it goes out on campus. We have emergency lanterns and weather radios for each residence hall floor, but students need to be prepared with their own flashlights, backup chargers, etc. We are working to put some plans in place for meals, but mealtimes may occur at non-traditional times depending on weather conditions. Drive-off and walk-off procedures will be suspended beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Storm Procedures
Several ASMS Leadership Team members will remain on campus for the duration of the storm. We will do our best to update via email and text message during the storm. You can also check our severe weather website page for updates. If you have additional concerns, please call the main number for the school, 251.441.2100. The safety and security of our students will continue to be our priority.
Monday Classes
We have decided to make all classes on Monday fully online (Learning Level 2). Teachers may host classes in Teams or provide asynchronous assignments through email or Blackbaud. Students should attend class virtually or complete activities in the manner communicated by their instructors. If the ASMS campus loses power or internet, classes will be temporarily canceled until power or internet is restored. Students off campus who lose power during the storm and cannot join a class meeting on Teams should contact their faculty members about makeup work as soon as is feasible.
Staff
Staff members who feel safe reporting to campus on Monday should do so. If you plan to work remotely, please communicate with your supervisor.
Tuesday Classes
At this time, classes will resume on campus on Tuesday following the traditional in-person method. Any off campus students still affected by power outages should contact their instructors about make-up work when it is possible for them to do so.
Confronting COVID-19 and Ida will demand patience and cooperation from all ASMS community members. During these difficult times, your sincere cooperation, respect, and kindness are appreciated and will undoubtedly help us move our community forward. Thank you for being so supportive.
Best,
Scarlette Spears Studdard, PhD
Director of Human Resources and Operations
Hurricane Ida Update 2, August 27 - afternoon
Dear ASMS Community,
The Leadership Team met this afternoon regarding Hurricane Ida. We wanted to share some information so that community members can prepare if we adjust our plans.
We are watching Hurricane Ida closely and will continue doing so. We aim to keep everyone on campus to protect our campus “bubble” from COVID-19. However, our priority is the safety and well-being of our students. Therefore, if forecasts change and the storm shifts east, we will likely announce a decision to evacuate the campus. If we decide to evacuate campus, we will let our community members know before noon tomorrow. We have buses on standby. Non-local students would board tomorrow afternoon and arrive home tomorrow evening/night. ASMS would cover bus fees.
The Leadership Team will be meeting tomorrow (Saturday, August 28) morning, and we will communicate any changes or additional information before noon tomorrow.
At this time, students should prepare for an evacuation just in case, gathering personal items, books, supplies, technology, etc., that they will need to bring with them. If we evacuate, WIFI hotspots will be available at the front desk during check out.
Finally, we can foresee that there may be a deviation from our regular school schedule in some way on Monday. If this becomes the case, we will also send communication regarding what that will look like. Please continue checking e-mail as best you can. We will also post any other important information on our ASMS severe weather website page.
Thank you!
Best,
Scarlette Studdard, Ph.D.
Director of Human Resources and Operations
Tropical Storm Ida Update 1, August 27 - morning
Dear ASMS Community,
The Leadership Team is monitoring Tropical Storm Ida, which is anticipated to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane. The storm's center is forecasted to make landfall over the Northern Gulf Coast near New Orleans, Louisiana, late Sunday afternoon or night. Mobile and Baldwin Counties are currently under a Tropical Storm Watch. At present, ASMS should be prepared for heavy rain, storms, possible street flooding, and potential power outages at some point this weekend into Monday. The extent of poor conditions will depend on how far east or west the storm track shifts.
The ASMS Leadership Team does not have plans to evacuate the campus, and classes will convene as usual on Monday. However, if the storm shifts east towards the Mobile Gulf Coast, there will likely not be much time to adjust because it is moving so rapidly. Therefore, families uncomfortable with their student(s) staying on campus during what could be inclement weather have the option for them to return home.
Any students who choose to go home should email their teachers ASAP to receive instructions for keeping up with coursework and assignments. These students should also bring home all textbooks and devices. It is possible that some ASMS classes will be held online or asynchronously for the first half of next week, depending on conditions, but instructors will notify the affected classes if this is the case. Students should assume that their classes will meet in person and on the regular schedule unless otherwise notified.
The Leadership Team will continue to monitor the storm and keep the school community informed about decisions and plans. Thank you!
Scarlette Studdard, Ph.D.
Director of Human Resources and Operations
National Weather Service