Campus Alert Archive
UM

University of Miami Shifts to Remote as Hurricane Ian Churns Toward South Florida with Category 4 Fury

FLhurricaneemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

The University of Miami moved all Coral Gables and Marine campus classes to remote format beginning at 2:00 PM on September 27, 2022 as Hurricane Ian approached South Florida. Campus facilities including the student center, libraries, and wellness center were closed. While Ian ultimately made landfall further north near Fort Myers, UM experienced 35-45 mph wind gusts and rain bands across its Coral Gables campus.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
University of Miami
Private R1 · FL
~19,000 studentsUMiami ENN
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatimUniversity of Miami Storm Advisory: Hurricane Ian — Advisory 3 (messages.miami.edu)527 chars
Beginning at 2 p.m. Tuesday, and continuing throughout all of Wednesday, all classes on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses will move to an online format. Faculty should immediately convey to students how to access the course online, or any alternative academic continuity plans. Staff should follow the direction of their supervisor regarding whether to report to campus or work remotely on Wednesday. The following locations on the Coral Gables Campus will be closed as of 5 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed through Wednesday.
Verbatim excerpt from UM Storm Advisory 3, the controlling notice that moved Coral Gables and Marine campus classes online at 2 PM EDT on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
UM's storm-advisory pattern of issuing a numbered series ('Advisory 1, 2, 3') gives recipients a clear chronological anchor; Advisory 3 was the closure-trigger message
The advisory's directive that 'faculty should immediately convey to students how to access the course online' reflects UM's post-Irma 2017 academic-continuity playbook
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction344 chars
UM Storm Advisory UPDATE: Hurricane Ian has made landfall in southwest Florida. On UM campuses, gusts of 35-45 mph and bands of rain are expected. The campus remains outside the primary area of greatest concern. All Coral Gables and Marine campus classes remain in remote format. Campus facilities remain closed. Do not travel unless necessary.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa on September 28 as a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds, approximately 130 miles northwest of Miami
The note that 'the campus remains outside the primary area of greatest concern' reflected the westward shift of Ian's track that spared South Florida from the worst impacts
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction256 chars
UM Storm Advisory UPDATE: The Coral Gables and Marine campuses will resume normal operations, including normal academic delivery, today. Hurricane Ian has moved away from South Florida. Continue to monitor university communications for any further updates.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

UM's two-day disruption was relatively brief compared to universities closer to Ian's landfall, such as Florida Gulf Coast University which sustained significant damage
Context

Background

Hurricane Ian was one of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, making landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida on September 28, 2022 as a Category 4 storm. While the University of Miami's Coral Gables campus was approximately 130 miles southeast of the landfall point, the storm's large wind field brought tropical storm conditions to the Miami area. The Miami Hurricane student newspaper reported that classes shifted to virtual format on the afternoon of September 27. The university's storm advisory page served as the central communication hub, a practice refined over decades of hurricane experience in South Florida. UM's relatively quick return to normal operations contrasted sharply with institutions closer to the storm's path. WSVN reported that multiple South Florida universities and colleges suspended classes simultaneously during the storm.
Analysis

Key Findings

UM's two-day closure illustrates how even universities outside a hurricane's direct path must shut down due to the storm's wide-reaching wind and rain bands
The university's well-established storm advisory system reflects decades of institutional experience with hurricane preparedness in South Florida
The contrast between UM's brief closure and the catastrophic damage at institutions near Ian's landfall highlights how hurricane track shifts of even 100 miles can mean the difference between inconvenience and devastation
Outcome
No significant damage to UM campuses. Coral Gables and Marine campus classes moved remote September 27-29. Campus facilities closed for two days. Normal operations resumed September 29.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Latest information on Hurricane Ian - University of Miami News
    news.miami.edu
  2. Student Paper
    UM goes virtual for the remainder of Tuesday and all Wednesday classes - The Miami Hurricane
    themiamihurricane.com
  3. News
    South Florida universities suspend classes due to Hurricane Ian - WSVN
    wsvn.com
  4. Source
    Hurricane Ian - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
Tags
hurricaneweatheremergency-notificationfloridahurricane-iancategory-4remote-classessouth-floridacampus-closure
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion