Hurricane, September 27, 2024

Dear ETSU community, Our campus community is heartbroken by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, and we know many in our region are suffering unimaginable losses. Our first priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff, friends, and neighbors. As the emergency situation facing our area continues to unfold, we encourage everyone on campus to offer maximum flexibility and work together to support one another during this difficult time. Students who are unable to attend class or need to miss class to support loved ones will be given allowances to make up work at a later date, and faculty members are asked to adjust deadlines to allow students to focus on recovery efforts over the next few days. We recognize many students do not have access to Internet or electricity right now, so any course work deadlines for this weekend are suspended. Supervisors are asked to provide similar levels of flexibility to employees across campus. If you have questions or concerns about needing to miss work or class, please reach out to your instructors or supervisors so they will know the best way to support you. We recognize many in our community are struggling and will do whatever we can to offer support during this time, living by our values that people come first. We are fortunate that damage to campus was minimal, and our facilities are operational and safe. As much as possible, we will attempt to keep campus operating as usual, knowing that many students, employees, and community members will be in need of the services and support ETSU provides. We are working closely with leaders across campus and within the ETSU Health system to identify ways we can mobilize our resources to support the broader community. The Bucs Rebuild Together will serve as a single source of information for students, faculty, and staff to find assistance. Additionally, that page will offer ways to help support our neighbors for those of you who are able and looking for a way to help. More information will be provided throughout the weekend via email, online, and on ETSU's main social media channels. If it becomes necessary to limit services, cancel classes, or adjust access to facilities, that information will be shared via email and on our social media channels. If emergency situations arise, information will be sent out through the campus alert system. If you have not yet downloaded the ETSU Safe app to receive emergency alerts, please do so by visiting etsu.edu/safety . You should also text ETSU to 237233 to receive emergency text alerts. If you are concerned about an immediate threat to your or others' safety, please call Campus Safety at (423) 439-4480 or dial 911. Please stay safe and take care of one another. Sincerely, Brian Noland, President Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs