{ "id": "2024-10-07-florida-southern-college-hurricane-milton", "slug": "florida-southern-college-hurricane-milton-2024-10-07", "institution": { "name": "Florida Southern College", "shortName": "Florida Southern", "state": "FL", "type": "private-liberal-arts", "alertSystemName": "FSC Alert", "enrollment": 3500 }, "incident": { "date": "2024-10-07", "endDate": "2024-10-14", "type": "hurricane", "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification", "headline": "Hurricane; at - 6, - 4", "summary": "Florida Southern College [published a series of Hurricane Milton weather updates](https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates) for campus closure and reopening. Full official texts recovered.", "outcome": "Classes moved to remote instruction October 7-8. Campus closed indefinitely October 9. Essential personnel reported Friday October 11. Campus reopened October 14 at 8 AM.", "resolution": "confirmed-threat", "headlinePublic": "Hurricane; at - 6, - 4" }, "alerts": [ { "sequence": 1, "type": "initial", "timestampApprox": "October 6, 2024 - 4:00 PM", "channel": "website", "verbatimText": "Hurricane Milton - October 6, 2024 - 4:00 PM\nThe College's Emergency Management Team is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Milton, which is predicted to develop into a hurricane that will impact our area this week. \nBased on the latest information available, the College is implementing the following:\nStudents are encouraged to make arrangements to return home, if possible. All students should implement their emergency plans. Only students approved for emergency shelter should consider remaining on campus. To review your plan, go to the Portal, select \"Students\" in the top navigation bar, and select \"Emergency Plan\" from the far-left navigation bar.\nClasses: We will transition to remote instruction on Monday, October 7 and Tuesday, October 8. However, classes are not required to meet virtually at their scheduled times. Students will receive a message from their faculty with instructions shortly. Classes are canceled on Wednesday, October 9, Thursday, October 10, and Friday, October 11.\nResidence Halls and Temporary Emergency Shelter: Residences will close at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 8. All students and staff must vacate all campus residential facilities by Tuesday at 1:00 PM and will not be allowed back in the facilities until an all-clear is communicated by the College. Students should monitor their emails for a communication from Residence Life for additional important information. \n• Temporary Emergency Shelter: The interior hallways of the Music Department will be a temporary emergency shelter for any students who are approved. Student Life will email all students an update regarding their emergency shelter status by Monday at noon. Those using the emergency shelter must report to Honeyman Pavilion by Tuesday, October 8 between 1 PM and 5:00 PM. \n• Widespread power outages are expected. The emergency shelter will support basic necessities; conveniences such as air conditioning will not be available in the event of a power outage. The emergency shelter is also unable to support any accommodations, including but not limited to ESAs, medical accommodations, dietary restrictions, etc. This emergency shelter location is selected to maximize student safety, but the conditions are not comfortable or ideal, and as such, we strongly recommend that students vacate campus if at all possible.\nDining Services: Dining facilities, including Wynee's, will close at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, October 8. Students in the temporary emergency shelter on campus will be provided meals, beginning with dinner on Tuesday. Dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in the emergency shelter. \nTransportation to Airports: Campus Safety will provide shuttles to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) on Monday at 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM and Tuesday at 8:00 AM. Seats on the shuttle are first-come, first-served. Shuttles depart from the circle drive, in front of Wynee's Bistro. For more information about shuttle services please contact the Office of Safety and Security at 863-680-4305.\nWe will make a decision regarding Junior Journey trips as soon as possible and will communicate via email and social media shortly. \nStaff: Campus will be fully operational on Monday and staff should plan to report to campus. Further information regarding campus operations and staff assignments for Tuesday through the remainder of the week is expected by noon Monday.\nRoberts Academy: The Roberts Academy will be closed Tuesday, October 8, Wednesday, October 9, and Thursday, October 10. We will have normal school operations on Monday, October 7. Communication regarding operations on Friday, October 11, will be sent out later in the week. Parents and guardians should expect to receive an email from the school.\nWe encourage you to continue checking here and social media channels for updates. Should there be any changes to college operations, you will receive a notification via email and/or text. \nThank you, \nFSC Emergency Management Team", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates", "sourceDescription": "Official Florida Southern College weather updates page", "annotations": [ "Verbatim from official FSC weather updates page." ], "characterCount": 3991, "confidence": "high" }, { "sequence": 2, "type": "update", "timestampApprox": "October 8, 2024 - 12:00 PM", "channel": "website", "verbatimText": "Hurricane Milton - October 8, 2024 - 12:00 PM\nAs Hurricane Milton approaches, we hope you and your loved ones remain safe.\nImportant Reminders:\n• All residence facilities will close at 1:00 PM today, Tuesday, October 8.\n• Classes are suspended from Wednesday, October 9, through Friday, October 11.\n• Students must wait for an all-clear notification from the school before returning to campus. Please stay updated through your student email, social media, the college website, and text messages.\n• Junior Journey trips are contingent upon the Tampa and Orlando airports re-opening. Again, please keep an eye on all communication channels for the latest updates.\n• Roberts Academy will be closed Friday, October 11.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates", "sourceDescription": "Official Florida Southern College weather updates page", "annotations": [ "Verbatim from official FSC weather updates page." ], "characterCount": 714, "confidence": "high" }, { "sequence": 3, "type": "update", "timestampApprox": "October 10, 2024 - 4:30 PM", "channel": "website", "verbatimText": "Hurricane Milton - October 10, 2024 - 4:30 PM\nFirst and foremost, we hope this notice finds you and your loved ones safe from Hurricane Milton. We are glad to report that students and staff who remained on campus are safe.\nAt this time, recovery crews are assessing the damage. Campus, including residences, will remain closed until further notice. Please continue to monitor your email, text messages, and this page for updates once a reopening date can be determined.\nStaff\nCampus will remain closed until Monday, October 14 at 8 AM. On Friday, October 11, essential personnel should report to work as directed by their supervisor. Facilities team members should contact the Safety Office regarding their work status for tomorrow.\nStudents\nIf you are participating in a Junior Journey trip, please continue communicating with your faculty trip leader for the most up-to-date details.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates", "sourceDescription": "Official Florida Southern College weather updates page", "annotations": [ "Verbatim from official FSC weather updates page." ], "characterCount": 885, "confidence": "high" }, { "sequence": 4, "type": "update", "timestampApprox": "October 12, 2024 - 3:00 PM", "channel": "website", "verbatimText": "Hurricane Milton - October 12, 2024 - 3:00 PM\nAt this time, all residential facilities remain closed.\nWhile the damage is manageable, we continue to work with emergency personnel to assess the campus to ensure all spaces are safe and operational.\nOnly emergency personnel are currently on campus.\nIn-Season Student-Athletes\nWe are making preparations to return to practice on Monday. Please communicated with your coaches for further information.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates", "sourceDescription": "Official Florida Southern College weather updates page", "annotations": [ "Verbatim from official FSC weather updates page." ], "characterCount": 446, "confidence": "high" }, { "sequence": 5, "type": "all-clear", "timestampApprox": "October 14, 2024 - 12:30 PM", "channel": "website", "verbatimText": "Hurricane Milton - October 14, 2024 - 12:30 PM\nStudents: We are happy to report that all residential facilities will be open today, Monday, October 14 at 5 PM.\nPlease note: Fall Break is in session. Please monitor your email for a message from Student Life regarding reminders for Fall Break, and a follow-up regarding post-storm related information.", "isVerbatimConfirmed": true, "sourceUrl": "https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates", "sourceDescription": "Official Florida Southern College weather updates page", "annotations": [ "Verbatim from official FSC weather updates page." ], "characterCount": 350, "confidence": "high" } ], "context": "Florida Southern College, the [historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed liberal arts campus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Southern_College) on Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, sat in the path of Hurricane Milton as it crossed central Florida on October 9-10, 2024. The Lakeland area [received over 12 inches of rain in 24 hours](https://www.lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2024/october/public-notice-city-of-lakeland-hurricane-milton-restoration-update-october-17-2024/), a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event that overwhelmed stormwater systems and pushed the Peace River basin to historic crests. Florida Southern began with a [two-day remote instruction posture on October 7-8](https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates), then escalated to indefinite closure as Milton's track converged on Polk County. The campus reopened on Monday, October 14 at 8 AM, about five days after the peak rainfall, after [Lakeland's utility infrastructure was largely restored](https://www.lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2024/october/public-notice-city-of-lakeland-hurricane-milton-update-october-12-2024/). The college emerged with relatively limited damage compared with coastal peers, though the [12-inch rainfall in 24 hours](https://www.lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2024/october/public-notice-city-of-lakeland-hurricane-milton-update-october-9-2024/) stressed the campus's lakefront drainage on the south shore of Lake Hollingsworth.", "keyFindings": [ "Florida Southern used a two-stage closure: two days of remote instruction (Oct 7-8) followed by indefinite closure (Oct 9+)", "Lakeland received over 12 inches of rain in 24 hours, a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event", "Essential personnel were called back Friday October 11; general reopening was Monday October 14 at 8 AM", "The campus avoided catastrophic structural damage despite its lakefront location" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Weather Updates - Florida Southern College", "url": "https://www.flsouthern.edu/campus-offices/offices-directory/office-of-safety-and-security/weather-updates", "type": "official-archive", "accessDate": "2026-05-14" }, { "title": "Public Notice: City of Lakeland Hurricane Milton Restoration Update October 17, 2024", "url": "https://www.lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2024/october/public-notice-city-of-lakeland-hurricane-milton-restoration-update-october-17-2024/", "type": "official-archive", "accessDate": "2026-05-14" }, { "title": "Public Notice: City of Lakeland Hurricane Milton Update October 9, 2024", "url": "https://www.lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2024/october/public-notice-city-of-lakeland-hurricane-milton-update-october-9-2024/", "type": "official-archive", "accessDate": "2026-05-14" }, { "title": "Public Notice: City of Lakeland Hurricane Milton Update October 12, 2024", "url": "https://www.lakelandgov.net/news/posts/2024/october/public-notice-city-of-lakeland-hurricane-milton-update-october-12-2024/", "type": "official-archive", "accessDate": "2026-05-14" } ], "confidence": "high", "tags": [ "hurricane", "milton", "liberal-arts", "lakeland", "polk-county", "campus-closure", "remote-instruction", "florida", "1000-year-rainfall" ], "dateAdded": "2026-05-14", "lastUpdated": "2026-08-02", "addedBy": "ingestion" }