{
  "id": "2021-08-29-tulane-university-hurricane-ida",
  "slug": "tulane-university-hurricane-ida-2021-08-29",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Tulane University",
    "shortName": "Tulane",
    "state": "LA",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "TU Alerts",
    "enrollment": 14000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2021-08-29",
    "endDate": "2021-09-24",
    "type": "hurricane",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "headline": "About 1,500 students are bused to another city after a hurricane knocks out citywide power",
    "headlinePublic": "About 1,500 students are bused to another city after a hurricane knocks out citywide power",
    "summary": "Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on [August 29, 2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ida) as a Category 4 storm, knocking out power to the entire city of New Orleans including Tulane's campus. With no electricity, food, or fuel available, Tulane [evacuated approximately 1,500 students by bus to Houston](https://news.tulane.edu/news/students-evacuate-houston-hub-following-hurricane-ida) beginning August 31. The campus remained closed for 24 days, with residence halls not reopening until September 24, 2021.",
    "outcome": "No injuries reported among Tulane students. Approximately 1,500 students evacuated to Houston via 37 coach buses. Campus closed for 24 days. Classes canceled through September 12 and resumed online September 13. Residence halls reopened September 24.",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat"
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "advisory",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "We continue to monitor what is expected to become Hurricane Ida. Tulane will continue normal operations today, Friday, August 27th, but will be closed on Monday & all classes, both in-person and online, will be cancelled Sunday and Monday. Saturday classes will be held as normal.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1431301592519688192",
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      "characterCount": 280,
      "timestamp": "2021-08-27T12:04:26-05:00"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "New Orleans has not ordered a mandatory evacuation for those living within its levee system. Tulane’s uptown and downtown campuses are both within the levee system. Following our protocols for tropical storm conditions, Tulane has enacted its shelter-in-place plan.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1431656388607070211",
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      "characterCount": 265,
      "timestamp": "2021-08-28T11:34:16-05:00"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ Hurricane Ida has made landfall at 11:55 AM as a Category 4 hurricane over Port Fourchon, LA. \n We expect the worst impacts to begin in the next hour and last for multiple hours as the storm moves inland.\n\nContinue to shelter in place until further notice.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432032920907157516",
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      "characterCount": 259,
      "timestamp": "2021-08-29T12:30:28-05:00"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 4,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ Tulane’s closure for Hurricane Ida is extended through Tuesday. Campus will be closed and all classes cancelled on Monday, August 30th and Tuesday, August 31st. The School of Medicine will send out separate notices regarding clinical services and rotations.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432100962081116165",
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      "characterCount": 260,
      "timestamp": "2021-08-29T17:00:51-05:00"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 5,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ Tulane continues to experience the effects of Hurricane Ida. Remain sheltered in place.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432130926402752515",
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      "timestamp": "2021-08-29T18:59:55-05:00"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 6,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ We are closing campus and cancelling classes through Sunday, September 12. Classes will resume online only beginning Monday, September 13 through Wednesday, October 6 to give the city time to repair and reinstate power and other critical services.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432468439201984513",
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      "timestamp": "2021-08-30T17:21:04-05:00"
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    {
      "sequence": 7,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2021-08-30T17:21:33-05:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ On Monday, October 11, following fall break, we will return to in-person classes on campus. Fall break, October 7-October 10, will allow our students, faculty, and staff time to return to the city and campus prior to class resuming.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432468561717510144",
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    {
      "sequence": 8,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ Beginning tomorrow at 10AM, we will evacuate all remaining students (undergraduate & graduate; in-residence & off-campus) to Houston via bus. All students should pack no more than 2 pieces of luggage, their computer, and valuables. Students will receive details this evening.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432468784686718976",
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      "timestamp": "2021-08-30T17:22:26-05:00"
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    {
      "sequence": 9,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2021-08-30T17:24:18-05:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ Students from Irby, Phelps, Paterson & Wall who were relocated to the Commons/LBC can return to their res halls to pack\n⚠️ Off-campus students who didn't evacuate can come to the LBC to charge devices & eat at The Commons today only. Use extra caution on surrounding streets.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432469254536941568",
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    {
      "sequence": 10,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "⚠️ Tomorrow at 10 AM we will begin evacuating all remaining on-campus students. If students are self-evacuating to another location, they must do so by 5 PM tomorrow. Students may not remain on campus after 5 PM tomorrow. See thread for more ⬇️",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432553794752159746",
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      "timestamp": "2021-08-30T23:00:14-05:00"
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    {
      "sequence": 11,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "35 buses, 6 hours & a TUSTEP dog later students are checking in to hotels in Houston as we evacuate campus. Evacuations will continue tomorrow for off campus and downtown students. Students must report to Brown Field Wednesday between 10AM and 1 PM.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/Tulane/status/1432837276220993539",
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      "characterCount": 249,
      "timestamp": "2021-08-31T17:46:42-05:00"
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  ],
  "context": "[Hurricane Ida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ida) made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on August 29, 2021 as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. The storm knocked out power to all of Orleans Parish, including Tulane's uptown campus. The [Tulane Hullabaloo reported](https://tulanehullabaloo.com/56969/news/inside-tulanes-ida-evacuation/) that social media posts from students showed leaking ceilings, flooded rooms, and crumbling walls in the aftermath. With no power, food services, or fuel available in New Orleans, Tulane made the decision to evacuate students rather than shelter in place. [CNN reported](https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/31/us/tulane-hurricane-ida-evacuation/) that approximately 1,500 students were transported to Houston via a caravan of 37 coach buses with police escorts. The [TUPD response](https://news.tulane.edu/news/tupd-responds-hurricane-ida-above-and-beyond) included pre-storm relocation of students from residence halls near a construction crane, campus security throughout the storm, and coordination of the Houston evacuation. The 24-day campus closure was one of the longest hurricane-related closures in Tulane's history since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Tulane's decision to evacuate 1,500 students to Houston via 37 buses illustrates how total infrastructure failure in a city can force universities to relocate their entire residential population",
    "The pre-storm internal relocation of students from four residence halls due to a nearby construction crane shows how construction hazards compound hurricane risks",
    "The 24-day campus closure demonstrates that hurricane impacts extend far beyond the storm itself when city-wide power and services are disrupted"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Students evacuate to Houston hub following Hurricane Ida - Tulane News",
      "url": "https://news.tulane.edu/news/students-evacuate-houston-hub-following-hurricane-ida",
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    {
      "title": "Inside Tulane's Ida evacuation - The Tulane Hullabaloo",
      "url": "https://tulanehullabaloo.com/56969/news/inside-tulanes-ida-evacuation/",
      "type": "student-newspaper"
    },
    {
      "title": "Tulane University relocating students to Houston due to power outages - CNN",
      "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/31/us/tulane-hurricane-ida-evacuation/",
      "type": "local-media"
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    {
      "title": "TUPD responds to Hurricane Ida, above and beyond - Tulane News",
      "url": "https://news.tulane.edu/news/tupd-responds-hurricane-ida-above-and-beyond",
      "type": "official-archive"
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    {
      "title": "Hurricane Ida - Wikipedia",
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