Campus Procedures for Hazardous Weather

Tech Tower and lawn covered in snow

In order to respond to inclement weather situations as they arise, the Hazardous Weather and Emergency Conditions Plan—whose purpose is to set forth policies, procedures, lines of responsibility, authority and communications necessary to effect a rapid and orderly process for canceling classes, delaying campus openings, or closing the campus—will incorporate all available technologies to disseminate information about any changes in status.

Weather or other emergency situations may make it necessary for Georgia Tech to declare either "classes cancelled" or "campus closed" conditions. Other declarations may include "classes canceled until time" or "classes cancelled, but staff report to work," etc. Which declaration is made will determine which employees are required to come to work.

When a "classes cancelled" condition is in effect, all classes and instructional laboratories are affected; students and instructional faculty are not to report to campus. Administrative and research activities not directly tied to the instructional function will generally continue as normal, unless otherwise instructed by a supervisor. Other support employees may also be instructed not to report to work at the discretion of the administrator responsible for each major division.

When a "campus closed" condition is in effect, no employees are to report to work, except those previously designated as "emergency essential" by their department, or otherwise instructed by a supervisor.

When the decision is made by the senior vice president for Administration and Finance to declare either "classes cancelled" or "campus closed," Communications and Marketing will immediately notify local radio and television stations and place the campus status decision on the Institute's main web page. ICPA will also contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to place a message on the main campus information line, 404-894-2000, noting the status of the campus. Employees may call this number to hear a pre-recorded message. In addition, a message will be disseminated via the Georgia Tech Emergency Notification System (GTENS).

The Georgia Tech Police Department will notify senior administrators. Each administrator will then notify appropriate people in their own departments. Every attempt will be made to make decisions and notifications by 5:30 a.m. on the day the condition is to be in effect.

SmartRAD

SmartRAD is Georgia Tech's weather information and monitoring system that delivers the best available weather information in real-time, from sources such as the U.S. Geological Survey, National Weather Service and the National Lightening Detection Network. With a visit to www.police.gatech.edu/weather.htm, students, faculty and staff can subscribe to SmartRAD and receive e-mail notification of potentially hazardous weather.