There is a winter storm warning in effect in Wicomico county from tomorrow at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, with an estimated 3-5 inches of snow accumulations in Salisbury. This marks the second calendar week in a row the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Wicomico County and the surrounding areas.
Winter Storm Kingston is moving eastward toward the Mid-Atlantic, and is projected to reach the Lower Eastern Shore. The center of the storm is expected to move through Virginia, with some areas like Norfolk expecting about 10 inches of snowfall, but is still forecast to reach Salisbury.
Following last week’s snowfall, SU is already prepared for tomorrow’s potential storm. University Spokesperson Jason Rhodes told The Flyer via email how SU responds to pending forecasts.
“Because forecasts can, and often do, change quickly, decisions typically are made within hours, not days, of a storm’s reaching our area, though SU often tracks severe weather systems up to a week in advance,” Rhodes said. “This is why, often, closings and delays are not announced until the morning of the weather event.
“If campus is closed all day, our goal is to make that announcement by 6 a.m. at the latest.”
Last week, Salisbury received approximately 6 inches on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Salisbury University cancelled all classes after 12:30 p.m. and followed Inclement Weather Plan C on Wednesday, opening all offices two hours later than usual.
Some students, like Jacob Remy, thought campus should’ve been closed all day on Wednesday. Remy described what it was like to walk around campus to reach his classes.
“Campus was walkable but you definitely got snow in your shoes,” Remy said. “If you weren’t wearing boots, it was definitely not a fun walk.”
But commuter student Adam Rutter described the campus as traversable on Wednesday and thought the two hour delay was appropriate. He felt the most hazardous part of his commute on Wednesday was the parking lot off campus.
“The campus itself was [fine]. There were a lot of puddles, obviously. You can’t do anything about that,” Rutter said. “However, where I parked - all the way down at Court Plaza which is a bit of a hike- that parking lot was just a slushy mess, but what can you do besides wear your boots?”
As a commuter, Rutter considered the drive on Wednesday from his home in Pocomoke City to Salisbury safe. He compared it to his drive home in the middle of the snowstorm.
“Wednesday morning, the drive was safe,” Rutter said. “But Tuesday going back [home], not very [safe]. The announcement that classes were cancelled came around 12:30 p.m. I would say I left around 1:15 p.m. I procrastinated a little because the snow hadn’t started, but once it did, it started coming down pretty fast. It got out of hand quickly.”
Rhodes explained how SU takes commuters into consideration in the midst of severe weather. He says that SU accounts for students and teachers alike that have to drive to campus and that snow days can be flexible for anyone afraid to commute.
“Unfortunately, we aren’t able to account for every residential and side street that may still be waiting for a snow plow or for areas outside Salisbury,” Rhodes said. “For this reason, we do our best to offer some flexibility for those who feel unsafe traveling.
“For employees, that often means granting liberal leave, which allows them to take leave that day without requesting it in advance. For students, we encourage checking in with professors and explaining the situation. In many cases, they will work with students to ensure minimal academic interruption.
“For both employees and students, we stress that safety comes first. If you don’t feel safe traveling to campus, don’t come to campus, even if the University is open. SU will still be here once you feel comfortable getting here.”
Unlike public K-12 schools, SU does not have a limited amount of snow days. Rhodes said that SU faculty have the ability to teach virtual classes or utilize asynchronous learning, in the event inclement weather prohibits meeting in a physical classroom.
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By DAVID BOHENICK
Editor-in-Chief
Image courtesy of Jonah Halper