Our University has been working tirelessly to make sure our campus is safe and secure for your return this week after the impact of Hurricane Milton. Our highest priority continues to be your safety and well-being, and we are confident that all essential areas needed to resume classes and normal operations are ready to welcome you back.
For students living in Residential Hall III, we want to assure you we are actively addressing the challenges caused by the storm, mitigating remaining water damage and ensuring your safety. Our teams have conducted assessments in each unit, and affected units experienced minimal puddling in sporadic locations. Unfortunately, some items left on the floor—such as shoes, clothing, rugs, and bedding—were wet. This is the extent of the issues for most units, and they will be ready for your return on Wednesday.
However, five suites may require additional time before they are ready to be occupied. We are currently working with our outside vendors to establish a timeframe, and they have indicated that it may take approximately one extra day. We are expecting an update from them by tomorrow, Tuesday, at 4 p.m. Affected students will be notified via email and telephone tomorrow afternoon with the plan to accommodate them in another room on campus for the evening. We appreciate your understanding as we work diligently to resolve the situation and support you during this time.
As you prepare to return, please be aware that some areas of our grounds are still recovering. You may notice some fallen trees, broken fences, and other visible signs of damage. Despite the considerable impact on our campus, cleanup efforts are progressing steadily and will be ongoing.
For those of you who are still facing challenges as a result of the hurricane and are unable to return to classes on Thursday, we encourage you to contact your instructors as soon as possible to discuss your situation. Additionally, we want to remind you that mental health resources are available through BayCare by calling 800-878-5470 to help you during this difficult time. This information can also be found on the back of your Florida Poly ID card.
We look forward to seeing you back on campus as we continue progressing together.
Our recovery and clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton are progressing, but there is still work left to be done to ensure the campus is fully ready for reopening.
Campus is NOT OPEN at this time. The reopening of campus and the resumption of classes is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, with residential students cleared to return to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Family Day, originally scheduled for Oct. 19, will be postponed until the spring semester. All other activities scheduled for next weekend will be canceled.
We understand that the effects of Hurricane Milton have been widespread and, in some areas, devastating. As a result, some students may be unable to return to classes by Thursday. Those students severely affected by the storm are encouraged to contact their instructors to discuss necessary accommodations.
Florida Poly is fully committed to supporting our University community through this challenging time, ensuring everyone has the resources and assistance they need to recover and move forward. Remember, we have mental health services available through BayCare by calling 800-878-5470. This contact information can also be found on the back of your Florida Poly ID card.
As we work diligently to reopen our campus, please continue to monitor your email, the Hurricane Milton webpage, and our social media channels for any further updates. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to bring our University back to full operation.
Our recovery and clean-up efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton are progressing, but there is still much work left to be done to ensure the campus is fully ready for reopening.
At this time, campus will remain closed on Monday, Oct. 14, and only critical employees are required to report for duty. If your role is critical, your supervisor will notify you directly.
All employees should plan to return to normal, on-campus operations on Tuesday, Oct. 15. We understand the effects of Hurricane Milton have been widespread and, in some areas, devastating. As a result, some faculty and staff may be unable to work by Tuesday. Those employees severely affected by the storm should contact their supervisor as soon as possible to discuss alternative work arrangements or the option to take annual leave, as appropriate.
Classes are scheduled to begin on Thursday, Oct. 17, with residential students returning to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Family Day, originally scheduled for Oct. 19, will be postponed until the spring semester. All other activities scheduled for next weekend will be canceled.
Florida Poly is fully committed to supporting our University community through this challenging time, ensuring everyone has the resources and assistance they need to recover and move forward. Remember, we have mental health services available through BayCare by calling 800-878-5470. This contact information can also be found on the back of your Florida Poly ID card.
As we work diligently to reopen our campus, please continue to monitor your email, the Hurricane Milton webpage, and our social media channels for any further updates.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to bring our University back to full operation.
We are pleased to share that Florida Poly is in full recovery mode following the impact of Hurricane Milton. We are mitigating the damage caused by the strong winds and heavy rain our campus experienced, and we have mobilized repair crews to actively address these issues.
Specifically, the water intrusion impacting Residential Hall 3 was caused by wind-blown rain from the east entering the building though dryer vents. Water extraction in those areas is ongoing, and moisture mitigation is in progress to ensure optimal conditions.
In addition, a significant amount of debris was scattered throughout campus, and our teams are working tirelessly to clear the areas and restore our grounds.
At this time, we’re happy to report that power on campus has been restored. However, we must reemphasize that students and employees should not return to campus until given official clearance to do so.
We will send another update tomorrow evening, Saturday, Oct. 12, to keep you informed on our progress and plans for reopening campus. Your safety and well-being remain our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that all areas are safe, secure, and prepared to welcome you back.
Please continue to monitor your email, the Hurricane Milton webpage, and our social media channels for important updates regarding our recovery efforts and reopening plans.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this process.
We hope you and your loved ones are OK today and are supporting one another as our state begins the recovery process after Hurricane Milton made its way over Florida last night.
Now that it is safer, we are assessing the campus, and crews are beginning the clean-up process.
The same is being done by city and state officials across Florida. Emergency officials have asked that individuals remain off the roads to allow for both clear access for emergency and work vehicles and for debris removal. We urge you to follow this direction.
Please stay connected with us by checking your Florida Poly email, the Hurricane Milton webpage, and our social media channels for future updates.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast late tonight or in the early hours of tomorrow morning, Thursday. We hope you are safely sheltered and taking all necessary precautions.
Once the storm has fully passed through our region, our teams will promptly assess any damage to campus and initiate clean-up efforts. Please do not attempt to return to campus until you receive official clearance to do so. Your safety is our highest priority, and we must thoroughly ensure that all areas are safe and secure before welcoming students and employees back to campus.
Employees interested in volunteering in clean-up efforts can contact Human Resources at hr@floridapoly.edu and they will connect you with the appropriate contacts.
Stay connected as you are able by checking your Florida Poly email, the Hurricane Milton webpage, and our social media channels for updates on campus reopening and when it will be safe for students and employees to return.
We’ll provide new updates once the storm has passed.
Please stay safe.
The most recent updates on Hurricane Milton show a steady path toward Florida, with landfall expected tomorrow, Wednesday, as a major hurricane near the Tampa-Sarasota coast. After closely evaluating the hurricane’s strength and projected trajectory, our leadership team has made important decisions regarding University operations for the remainder of the week.
Campus will remain closed on Friday, Oct. 11, and throughout the weekend. All scheduled activities and events during this time are canceled. Our teams will assess the storm's impact and begin cleanup efforts to ensure a safe return to campus, tentatively planned for Monday, Oct. 14. Resuming normal operations will also depend on the restoration of power and other essential services across campus.
Unless other factors delay it, our intent is to provide a determination of a Monday opening in the Saturday evening update to students and University personnel. Please continue to monitor your Florida Poly email, our Hurricane Milton webpage, and our social media channels to stay informed on the latest decisions affecting our University.
In addition to staying informed, we want to ensure you have the support you need during this difficult time. Preparing for a hurricane can feel overwhelming, but remember we have services available for you through BayCare at 800-878-5470. This contact information can be found on the back of your Florida Poly ID card as well. You can also find here a resource from the National Institute of Mental Health with valuable information about ways to cope with stress and anxiety.
Our Emergency Management Team is meeting regularly as Hurricane Milton continues to approach the state. Currently, there are no significant changes to its projected path, and our response plans remain unchanged. For the latest updates, please visit our Hurricane Milton webpage.
As the storm draws nearer, we strongly encourage everyone to use this time to finalize their storm preparations. Having essential supplies on hand and a plan in place is crucial to staying safe.
We will provide another update tomorrow afternoon with additional information, including any potential impacts on Friday’s operations. Please continue monitoring your Florida Poly email, as well as our University website and social media channels to stay informed.
Our leadership team has just convened to assess the latest information on Hurricane Milton, which was upgraded from a tropical storm earlier today. Current forecasts suggest a strong consensus on the storm’s intensity and trajectory, indicating a high probability that our campus may be significantly affected.
Your safety is always our top priority. In response to the current situation, we have made important changes to this week’s operations.
- Monday, Oct. 7: Classes will continue as scheduled until 5 p.m. However, we understand that some students may have not yet returned from being home for the weekend. If you have issues coming to campus on Monday morning, please contact your instructors for further guidance. Campus will close at 5 p.m. and all common exams and activities will be canceled.
- Tuesday, Oct.8 – Thursday, Oct. 10: Campus will remain closed and all buildings will be locked. Students living on campus are strongly encouraged to evacuate, as Florida Poly is not designated as a hurricane shelter. We anticipate a disruption in all normal operations, which could result in no cell phone service, power outages, and other challenging effects.
We understand some students, particularly international students and others with unique situations, may be unable to evacuate. Contingency plans are being made for shelter and food for those in these circumstances. If you cannot leave campus, please contact Housing and Residence Life at housingandreslife@floridapoly.edu no later than 3 p.m. tomorrow, Monday.
Campus closure Monday at 5 p.m. is intended to allow sufficient time for safe travel away from campus, while Thursday’s closure will focus on damage assessment and cleanup efforts.
As you focus on hurricane preparation, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Please, contact our assistance program available through BayCare at 800-878-5470. This information also is available on the back of your Florida Poly ID card.
We will evaluate the situation following Thursday’s assessment and provide updates on additional changes to campus operations. Please continue monitoring your Florida Poly email, as well as our University website and social media channels to stay informed.
Our leadership team has just convened to assess the latest information on Hurricane Milton, which was upgraded from a tropical storm earlier today. Current forecasts suggest a strong consensus on the storm’s intensity and trajectory, indicating a high probability that our campus may be significantly affected.
Your safety is always our top priority. In response to the current situation, we have made important changes to this week’s operations.
- Monday, Oct. 7: Operations will continue as normal until 5 p.m., and employees should plan to work as usual. Certain employees may be required to be on campus due to the nature of their roles, and they should confirm their status with their supervisors. Campus will close at 5 p.m. and all activities will be canceled.
- Tuesday, Oct.8 – Thursday, Oct. 10: Campus will remain closed and all buildings will be locked. So that you are aware, students living on campus are strongly encouraged to evacuate, as Florida Poly is not designated as a hurricane shelter. We anticipate a disruption in all normal operations, which could result in no mobile phone service, power outages, and other challenging effects.
The Tuesday closure is intended to allow sufficient time for safe travel away from campus, while Thursday’s closure will focus on damage assessment and cleanup efforts.
As you focus on hurricane preparation, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Please, contact our assistance program available through BayCare at 800-878-5470. This information also is available on the back of your Florida Poly ID card.
We will evaluate the situation following Thursday’s assessment and provide updates on additional changes to campus operations. Please continue monitoring your Florida Poly email, as well as our University website, and social media channels to stay informed.
Hurricane Milton is solidifying its path toward the state and our Emergency Management Team continues to cautiously monitor the situation.
After the next update from the National Hurricane Center tonight, our leadership team will meet at 7 p.m. to discuss any new developments and make decisions about campus closures. You can expect an update this evening via your Florida Poly email, our social media channels and our website.
We know that many forecast models currently indicate the storm will impact our area to some degree. Now is the time to do all you can to prepare for the storm. You can find a hurricane supply checklist here. To monitor the hurricane’s path yourself, please visit the National Hurricane Center.
Please remember to monitor your Florida Poly email, as it is our primary method of communication. Updates will also be communicated via our website and social media channels.
As Tropical Storm Milton makes its way toward Florida, it’s time to ensure we are all prepared for possible effects.
Our Emergency Management Team launched our meeting protocols today to monitor the storm’s progress closely. University operations are currently scheduled to continue as normal.
Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center predict a landfall on Florida’s west coast this Wednesday, but the storm’s intensity and exact path are not yet fully known. Your safety is always our top priority. We will continue to keep a close watch on the situation and will update you as more information becomes available.
Please keep an eye on your Florida Poly email, as it will be our primary method of communication throughout the storm. Updates will also be communicated via our website and social media channels.
To stay updated on the storm’s progress, please visit the National Hurricane Center.