{
  "id": "2023-08-29-university-of-florida-hurricane-idalia",
  "slug": "university-of-florida-hurricane-idalia-2023-08-29",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of Florida",
    "shortName": "UF",
    "state": "FL",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "UF Alert",
    "alertPlatform": "GatorAlert / UF Emergency Weather Updates",
    "enrollment": 60000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2023-08-29",
    "endDate": "2023-08-31",
    "type": "hurricane",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-threat",
    "headline": "Campus closed ahead of Hurricane Idalia; storm passed about 60 miles to the west",
    "headlinePublic": "Campus closed ahead of Hurricane Idalia; storm passed about 60 miles to the west",
    "summary": "[The University of Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Florida) closed its Gainesville campus and canceled classes [beginning at noon EDT on Tuesday, August 29, 2023](https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/tropical-storm-idalia-8-29-23-update-6/) ahead of [Hurricane Idalia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Idalia), which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Keaton Beach on Florida's Big Bend on Wednesday, August 30. The storm passed within approximately 60 miles of Gainesville. A [Hurricane Warning was in effect for Alachua County](https://news.ufl.edu/2023/08/uf-campus-closure-class-cancellation/) with a potential for 58-73 mph winds.",
    "outcome": "Campus closed from noon EDT Tuesday, August 29 through Wednesday, August 30, 2023. All academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, were canceled. Residence halls remained open and Housing and Residence Life facilities continued operations. Idalia passed approximately 60 miles west of Gainesville on August 30. Campus reopened Thursday, August 31."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2023-08-28T16:00:00-04:00",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "UF ALERT: Due to Tropical Storm Idalia, which is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane along Florida's Big Bend coast, the University of Florida campus will close and classes will be canceled beginning at noon on Tuesday, August 29, and continuing through Wednesday, August 30. All academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams, are canceled during that time. Students living in residence halls on campus should plan to stay in them. Students who live off campus should follow local and state guidance for preparing for a tropical storm or hurricane. Housing and Residence Life facilities will remain open to current residents.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://news.ufl.edu/2023/08/uf-campus-closure-class-cancellation/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF News: 'UF campus closure, class cancellation' (August 28, 2023)",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim from UF News' August 28 closure announcement, which set the noon-Tuesday-through-Wednesday closure window",
        "Notable for explicitly canceling online classes and exams, a recognition that students across Florida might lose power",
        "Directs residence hall students to 'plan to stay' rather than evacuate, consistent with UF's standard hurricane protocol of sheltering residential students in place"
      ],
      "characterCount": 666
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2023-08-29T12:01:00-04:00",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/tropical-storm-idalia-8-29-23-update-8/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates — Tropical Storm Idalia Update #8",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2023-08-30T05:00:00-04:00",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/tropical-storm-idalia-8-30-23-update-10/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates — Tropical Storm Idalia Update #10",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 4,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestampApprox": "Evening of August 30, 2023, reopening announcement, EDT",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Updates — UF to resume normal operations Thursday",
      "annotations": [],
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/uf-to-resume-normal-operations-thursday/"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 5,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/hurricane-idalia-8-30-23-final-update/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 6,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/update-on-announcement-regarding-classes-campus-operations/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 7,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/commonly-asked-questions-regarding-uf-campus-closure/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 8,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/tropical-storm-idalia-8-29-23-update-8/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 9,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/uf-campus-services-and-events-updates-2/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 10,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/28/tropical-storm-idalia-8-28-23-update-5/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 11,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/28/uf-campus-closure-class-cancellation/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 12,
      "type": "update",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/28/tropical-storm-idalia-campus-operations-class-schedule-update/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "annotations": []
    }
  ],
  "context": "[Hurricane Idalia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Idalia) made landfall on the morning of August 30, 2023 near Keaton Beach in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph. The storm passed approximately 60 miles west of Gainesville, where [the University of Florida](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Florida) is located. UF's emergency operations team announced the closure on the afternoon of August 28; [UF News and Statements published the formal closure notice](https://news.ufl.edu/2023/08/uf-campus-closure-class-cancellation/), which specified that campus and classes would close beginning at noon EDT on Tuesday, August 29 and continue through Wednesday, August 30. The closure included all academic and student-related activities, including online classes and exams. UF's emergency updates page issued a numbered series of bulletins (Updates 1-9 and beyond) during the storm, the most operationally significant being [Update #6 on the morning of August 29](https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/tropical-storm-idalia-8-29-23-update-6/) and [Update #9 issued at the 5:00 AM EDT advisory on August 30](https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/tropical-storm-idalia-8-30-23-update-9/) when Idalia was closest to Gainesville. Residence halls remained open and Housing and Residence Life facilities continued operating throughout. The Hurricane Warning for Alachua County was lifted Wednesday afternoon as Idalia continued north into Georgia; the campus reopened Thursday, August 31.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "UF closed beginning at noon EDT on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, a precise mid-day operational pivot during the warning period",
    "The closure explicitly canceled online classes and exams in addition to in-person instruction",
    "A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Alachua County; NWS Jacksonville forecast 58-73 mph winds in Gainesville",
    "Residence halls and Housing and Residence Life facilities remained open throughout the closure",
    "Idalia passed approximately 60 miles west of Gainesville at the 5:00 AM EDT advisory on August 30 before continuing north into Georgia",
    "UF Emergency Weather Updates issued a numbered bulletin series (Updates 1-9+) that became the canonical public timeline"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "UF campus closure, class cancellation (UF News, August 28, 2023)",
      "url": "https://news.ufl.edu/2023/08/uf-campus-closure-class-cancellation/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Tropical Storm Idalia -- 8/29/23 -- Update #6 (UF Emergency Weather Updates)",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/tropical-storm-idalia-8-29-23-update-6/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Tropical Storm Idalia -- 8/30/23 -- Update #9 (UF Emergency Weather Updates)",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/tropical-storm-idalia-8-30-23-update-9/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Commonly asked questions regarding UF campus closure (UF News)",
      "url": "https://news.ufl.edu/2023/08/hurricane-faq/hurricane-faq/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Idalia blows off classes: Multiple Florida universities shut down ahead of storm (CBS12)",
      "url": "https://cbs12.com/news/local/university-of-florida-uf-tropical-storm-idalia-hurricane-blows-off-classes-university-of-florida-shuts-down-ahead-of-storm-august-28-2023",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Hurricane Idalia (Wikipedia)",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Idalia",
      "type": "encyclopedia"
    },
    {
      "title": "Tropical Storm Idalia – 8/29/23 – Update #8 — UF Emergency Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/tropical-storm-idalia-8-29-23-update-8/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Tropical Storm Idalia – 8/30/23 – Update #10 — UF Emergency Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/tropical-storm-idalia-8-30-23-update-10/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "UF to resume normal operations Thursday — UF Emergency Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/uf-to-resume-normal-operations-thursday/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/hurricane-idalia-8-30-23-final-update/"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/update-on-announcement-regarding-classes-campus-operations/"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/30/commonly-asked-questions-regarding-uf-campus-closure/"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/29/uf-campus-services-and-events-updates-2/"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/28/tropical-storm-idalia-8-28-23-update-5/"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/28/uf-campus-closure-class-cancellation/"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "UF Emergency Weather Updates",
      "url": "https://updates.emergency.ufl.edu/2023/08/28/tropical-storm-idalia-campus-operations-class-schedule-update/"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "hurricane",
    "hurricane-idalia",
    "campus-closure",
    "florida",
    "gainesville",
    "big-bend",
    "2023-hurricane-season",
    "online-classes-canceled",
    "shelter-in-place",
    "alachua-county"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-13",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-20",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}