Hurricane Matthew-Post-Storm Relief Efforts and Campus Clean-up

As we prepare for Hurricane Matthew, our utmost priority is the care and well-being of our campus community. Over the last 72 hours, the College has focused on preparing the campus in anticipation of the storm. Our Facilities team has been busy trimming trees, clearing furniture and preparing buildings and basements for high winds and rain. Our main goals over the next few days are ensuring life safety and preserving campus property, with the aim of restoring campus to normal operations in as short of a time-frame as possible following the storm.

Members of the campus community have asked how they can help once the storm passes. The College plans to hold a community clean-up on Saturday, October 8th or potentially Sunday, October 9th, once the storm has passed and after damage assessment has been completed. Time-frame is contingent on the storm’s impact and time-frame, but, as of now, we anticipate beginning these efforts at 1 p.m. Saturday. Once the storm has passed, if you are able and interested

Once the storm has passed, if you are able and interested, please sign-up.

In the interim, Rollins asks that all students and employees enter their information in the Hurricane Student Tracker. The Bush Science Center will be the College’s 24-hour storm ride-out shelter beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. This shelter at Bush is primarily for students staying on campus, but will be open to Rollins community members, including those who live off campus. Keeping student safety in mind, this shelter is not a public shelter and is strictly for members of the Rollins community. One exception to this rule is that we have offered to shelter members of Winter Park Fire and Police. If we find that others outside the Rollins community are trying to check in to the shelter, we will refer them to an alternative nearby County shelter.

Visit emergency.rollins.edu and follow Rollins social channels for the latest information.

As more resources become available, we will continue to provide the campus with information regarding the volunteer needs within the community-at-large

In closing, we’d like to leave you with this quote from a distinguished Rollins alum:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world.” — Mister Rogers