2012 Hurricane Season Update

With the 2012 hurricane season officially beginning June 1, the college administration has begun making preparations for potential storms this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasters indicate a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is anticipated, with the likelihood of nine to 15 named tropical storms (39 mph or higher winds), of which four to eight will strengthen to a hurricane (74 mph or higher winds).

Since there is always a possibility of a storm striking the Mississippi Gulf Coast, all college employees should take a moment to review their department’s severe-weather policies and plans as well as personal emergency weather plans. As you know, communications play a key role during any emergency. College information will be communicated through the Connect-ED system, the website and the college’s toll-free number. To enhance communication efforts, please review the following checklist:

• To ensure notification through Connect-ED, visit Web Services by logging in through the college website. Once you have logged in to the secure area, update your emergency contact information at the bottom, left-hand side of the page under Personal Information.
• In the event that the main website becomes unavailable, check our back-up site, http://mgccc.blogspot.com. Students and employees can also call the college’s toll-free phone number, 1-866-735-1122, for periodic college updates during severe-weather situations.
• If evacuation becomes necessary, students and employees who evacuate will find important updates through the local television, radio and newspapers as well as the Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s statewide network of radio and television affiliates. MPB’s radio frequencies are listed on all state evacuation signs.
• The college administration will continue to monitor evolving conditions in the tropics and will issue updates throughout the summer and fall.
• Periodic updates will be posted on this special section of the Web site throughout the 2012 hurricane season.

For your convenience the following sites are also important to hurricane preparedness:

• http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml
• http://www.noaa.gov/
• http://www.mpbonline.org/
• http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/
• http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
• MDOT Emergency Preparedness
• http://www.msema.org/

The safety, protection and well-being of our employees are of the utmost importance as we prepare for severe weather as well as other emergencies.