Hurricane Ida first struck the U.S. Aug. 27 in Louisiana, then developed into a tropical depression as it reached the Elizabethtown, Pa. area Sept. 1.
In preparation for the incoming storm, Elizabethtown College contacted students via email on Aug. 31 to notify them of Tropical Depression Ida. Several flood warnings were also issued by the National Weather Service from Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening.
Notably, Lancaster County received its most precipitation in a single day since 1999.
Non-essential employees were instructed to depart from campus by 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. Classes scheduled from 3:30 p.m. or later moved from in-person to asynchronous or remote via Zoom.
“We met with our campus partners to make sure we were on the same page with regard to responses to issues, historical issues in similar situations and that we had a communications and response plan in place,” Associate Dean of Students for Community Living Jennifer Crowder said.
Crowder noted that addressing these issues helped them to prepare for Tropical Depression Ida.
In the email, the College recommended that students, faculty and staff sign-up for EC Alerts to notify them of severe weather conditions and other notifications, as well as cautioned against walking or driving through standing water.
The College also prepared with backup generators for campus buildings such as the Baugher Student Center, Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being and residential buildings. According to the College, Founders Hall card readers “will not work if the power goes out.” As such, they had Housing and Residence Life staff available by the main entrance to let in students as needed.
However, Crowder noted that they “learned after the email went out to campus that Founders key access is on a backup generator after all.”
In their email, the College recommended that residential students prepare go-bags “with essential items such as personal documents and medications.” More so, Crowder also recommended that students have flashlights readily available in case the power went out, as well as phones and phone battery banks charged. Candles, however, remain prohibited.
Students on the ground floor were also advised to temporarily stay with friends on upper-level floors or contact Campus Security, should the ground floors begin to flood.
The College also informed students that they should submit work orders and contact Campus Security about flooding or any damage from the storm. Housing and Residence Life staff also monitored buildings for slipping hazards.
Accommodations were also offered to students in SDLC houses to temporarily move onto the main campus in light of a power outage. Commuters were also advised to reach out to Campus Security if they required shelter from the storm.
According to Crowder, there wasn’t a power outage in any residential facilities associated with the College.
Beyond typical storm preparations, students, faculty and staff were advised to back up important documents and move vehicles to the tennis court parking lots, especially for those parking in the Hackman and Brinser Staff parking lots.
The area received approximately six inches of rain from Tropical Depression Ida. The next day, however, brightened the area with some sunshine.
