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Northwestern State University officials are developing and implementing emergency preparedness plans
08/29/08 - 03:30 PM
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Nancy Henry - bio
click for larger image Northwestern State University - Natchitoches, LA

Northwestern State University officials are developing and implementing emergency preparedness plans to assist students, evacuees, storm response personnel and others as Tropical Storm Gustav moves toward the Gulf of Mexico.

NSU¹s Health and Human Performance Building is being prepared as an emergency evacuation shelter if requested by the American Red Cross.  The facility has served as a shelter for evacuees from Katrina, Rita and other storms that hit the South Louisiana Gulf Coast in recent years.

Depending on the track of Gustav, students from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, the University of New Orleans and other South Louisiana schools could be housed in a vacant dormitory at Northwestern that is being prepared as a possible shelter for students from campuses that could be affected by the approaching storm.

Emergency response personnel from utility companies in Louisiana and other states have also contacted Northwestern officials about the use of university facilities, and efforts are being made to accommodate those workers who will be dealing with possible power outages in the region.

NSU officials are coordinating storm preparedness plans with the American Red Cross, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff¹s Office and other local law enforcement and emergency response agencies and personnel.

Student services personnel at Northwestern are continually tracking Gustav in preparation to provide assistance to students if heavy winds and rains from the approaching storm reach the Natchitoches area and disrupt electrical power or create other problems.

NSU faculty, staff and students are advised to monitor the storm¹s progress through media outlets, the Internet and other sources and to obtain specific information on the impact of the storm on Northwestern by going to http://www.nsula.edu/hurricane.asp

Northwestern officials will determine the status of Tuesday classes at the university by Monday.

Northwestern State University president Dr. Randall Webb is also encouraging students, faculty and staff to sign up for the university¹s emergency alert system, which includes notification of crisis situations by text messaging, e mails and calls to campus landlines.

Registration for this ³Purple Alert² system can be completed by going to http://www.nsula.edu/purplealert.  There is no charge to sign up from the emergency alert system although some people without unlimited text messaging may be charged for receiving a notification.

Students, faculty and staff may enter cell phone numbers, primary and secondary e-mail addresses and secondary phone numbers at which they can be notified of emergencies.

NSU is also accommodating online students who residential areas may be affected by Gustav.  If the storm causes a disruption in service preventing or limiting access to the Internet, online students will have the opportunity to complete online classes without penalties if they attempt to contact class instructors within 72 hours.

Northwestern¹s website includes a link to the Governor¹s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, which is providing continual information, updates and emergency plans related to the storm.

Parents, students, families of evacuees and others who need to make emergency calls to Northwestern State University should phone University Police at (318) 357-5431.

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