Emergency Preparedness

Closures and Evacuations


Student services and residence life administrative procedures
  1. The incident response team assembles the student evacuation team leaders and initiates the evacuation preparation plan.
  2. The designated staff member confirms with physical resources the transportation schedules and hall closings.
  3. The dean of students meets with the student evacuation team leaders to review and assign the evacuation timetable.
  4. Each individual should arrive at the meeting prepared to be engaged for several days (bring cell phones and chargers).
  5. Designated staff members inform students of the evacuation timetable and update residence hall rosters as needed.
  6. Designated staff members gather supplies and distribute communication lists.
  7. Designated staff members coordinate the food and water that will travel on the buses with students as they depart.
  8. Designated staff members evacuate with students on buses to the designated inland shelter. Other members of the student evacuation team follow in an order determined by the dean of students.
  9. Designated staff remain with students during the entire stay at the shelter and accompany students in returning to campus after approval to return has been announced.
Evacuation procedures for all SCAD students
If emergency or SCAD officials indicate evacuation is necessary:
  • All SCAD students, professors and staff will be notified via email, phone and text message in the event of a closure or evacuation.
  • If you are living on campus, check with your residence director or resident assistant for the evacuation time table.
  • Take only items that you can carry comfortably.
  • Proceed to the Dyson House-Weston House staging area for bus assignment (read evacuation staging area section for details).
  • If you are traveling in your own vehicle or with friends, leave as soon as possible, avoid flooded roads, and watch for washed-out bridges.
  • Tell someone living outside of the storm area where you are going.
  • If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture or move it to a higher floor to protect it from flooding.
  • Bring emergency supplies and warm, protective clothing with you.
  • Take blankets and sleeping bags to the shelter.
  • Use telephones, including cell phones, for emergency calls only.
Evacuation information for residence hall students
If emergency or SCAD officials indicate evacuation is necessary:
  1. The university evacuates all residence halls when the request to evacuate is given by local authorities. Students MUST leave the residence halls.
  2. All university buildings are closed when a university-wide evacuation is ordered.
  3. Students have the option to evacuate with the university, to safe homes of families and friends, to hotels or to public shelters.
  4. Students should inform their parents/families of their evacuation plans.
  5. The resident assistants survey their residents during pre-evacuation procedures and make note of each resident's evacuation plans.
  6. Room preparation: Residence hall students living in lower level rooms should remove as many personal items as possible from the floors of their rooms in case of flooding. All blinds should be raised for visibility and security checks. Electrical equipment should be unplugged.
  7. Packing for school-organized evacuation: Change of clothes, minimal toiletries, blanket or sleeping bag, pillow, water, snacks, flashlight, books, cards. Students should be prepared to hold all items on their laps.
  8. Students requesting transportation to an inland shelter or evacuation point need to gather at the Dyson House-Weston House complex at designated times to board buses.
  9. Students must inform their resident assistant and/or residence director if they change their evacuation plans.
Evacuation information for parents
If emergency or SCAD officials indicate evacuation is necessary:
  1. SCAD has an extensive hurricane preparedness plan in place. The safety of our students is our number one concern. The university is in regular contact with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency, constantly monitoring any emergency situation as it develops.
  2. If the situation warrants, the SCAD campus will be closed, and classes will be canceled.
  3. Students in campus housing will be notified of any closings through residence life staff, as well as via email and automated messages.
  4. Off-campus students should monitor local television and radio newscasts, email and this website. Information will be announced through an automated Blackboard Connect message, posted on the website and distributed to the news media immediately if the decision is made to close the university.
  5. Students are encouraged to contact their parents and families and let them know where they are going, should evacuation be mandated.
  6. Government and Red Cross emergency management services will designate the disaster shelters. Information about these locations will be distributed in the residence halls, via Blackboard Connect, on this website, in email and through the news media.
  7. Buses will transport students without their own transportation to a designated inland shelter, possibly the SCAD Atlanta location. Again, information about bus schedules may be found through the residence halls, via Blackboard Connect, on this website, in email and through the news media.
Evacuation staging areas
The Dyson House-Weston House complex is designated as the primary staging area for students planning to use the university buses for their evacuation. Information about timetables and schedules will be provided in the residence halls, via Blackboard Connect, on this website, in email and through the news media.
Evacuation centers
Shelters are designated by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) and operated by the Red Cross. Following are some of the possible evacuation shelters for coastal area evacuees as identified by the Chatham Emergency Management Agency.

Inland Shelters
Experience has taught planners that the vast majority of evacuees make their decision to leave - including their destinations - as a personal decision. Most evacuees will travel to stay with family and friends. The rest will travel along the interstates and major state highways, to large communities that offer a variety of services like motels and emergency shelters. Georgia does not experience a "shelter deficit" in regards to shelter spaces accessible for the vulnerable coastal areas. The designated Hurricane Evacuation Center communities are:

Primary Inland Shelter Communities

Distance (from Savannah)
Augusta (Richmond County)
140 miles
Douglas (Coffee County)
165 miles
Dublin (Laurens County)
117 miles
Macon (Bibb County)
165 miles
Statesboro (Bulloch County)
62 miles
Tifton (Tift County)
195 miles
Waycross (Ware County)
123 miles

Inland counties will open shelters at the appropriate time based on coordination with the coastal counties and the Red Cross hurricane/tornado watch team. Shelters could be opened at the onset of when either a voluntary or mandatory evacuation is issued. Local and state authorities responsible for activating shelters will make decisions on an event-by-event basis.


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