Hurricane season, which is expected to busy, is upon us. As you know, two named storms have already affected other parts of the country. Southern University at New Orleans takes hurricane and emergency preparedness seriously and plans to do everything that we can in order to address the safety concerns of our students, faculty, staff and infrastructure.

We have begun conducting regular meetings regarding this issue. These meetings are coordinated by Mr. Trenton Vincent, Sr., Director of Safety and Transportation, who leads our hurricane and emergency preparedness efforts. These efforts also take into account plans for temporarily operating the University from Southern University at Baton Rouge and both transporting important documents and utilizing shelters there, if necessary. In the event of an evacuation, information and contact with SUNO can be made via: http://www.sunoonline.com (the University's backup website) or 1-866-749-1935. Preparation, however, begins with having a personal plan. Your personal plan should include:

I am proud to announce that SUNO recently acquired the capability to send text messaging alerts to all students, faculty and staff. To subscribe to this service you must register. You must have a valid e-mail address and provide a cellular phone number to receive the alerts. You can register at: http://suno.cleartxt.com. SUNO will deliver updates and emergency instructions through the alerting system, e-mail, website, and news media. Download the detailed registration instructions here. Please contact Mr. Omar Al-Dahir., Web Master with any questions about the SUNO Alert System registration at 504-286-5367 or via e-mail.

The City of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish also provide alert messaging. These services also require that you provide a cellular phone number and a valid e-mail address. You can register for the alerts at the following websites:

Again, while SUNO works to continuously to ensure your safety, the first line of defense is for you to make and/or update your personal evacuation plan. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Vincent at 504-286-5293 or via e-mail at tvincent@suno.edu.