WVU offers resources, reminds campus community of procedures as temperatures dip

West Virginia will see bitterly cold weather in the next couple of days. Temperatures will dip to single digits with negative wind chill factors predicted in some areas.

West Virginia University officials urge students, faculty and staff to be prepared to avoid the dangers of frostbite and hypothermia. These conditions can occur in a matter of minutes.

Consider these precautions:
• Travel with a fully charged phone.
• Make sure your vehicle is winterized, with appropriate antifreeze.
• Let someone know your exact travel route and when you leave and arrive.
• Have cold weather clothing in your vehicle including hats, gloves, coat, shoes, water and snacks in case your vehicle breaks down.
• Depending on situation, it usually is better to call 911 for assistance rather than walk in extreme temperatures to seek help.
• Stay indoors if at all possible.
• If you must leave your residence, wear several layers of clothing, coat, gloves, hats and cover as much of your face as possible with a scarf or other covering;
• Have enough heat in your residence.
• If supplemental heat is needed use UL-approved devices or electric heaters. Learn about heating dangers from WVU Extension Service.
• Do not warm your residence with open flames such as gas stove burners, ovens or a propane gas grill.
• Any fuel burning devices must be properly vented to the outside.
• If you are having heating problems, call your landlord.
• If water pipes are not well insulated, consider leaving water on to allow a slow but steady drip; flowing water, even at a drip can help keep pipes from freezing or bursting.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
• If pipes freeze, gently warm with a hair dryer; do not use hand-held propane blowtorches to warm frozen pipes.

A declaration of a weather emergency by the governor does not automatically close WVU campuses or offices. If officials decide to cancel or delay classes or close the University, students and employees will be informed through a variety of outlets including: WVU Alert system, MIX email and Unews, students.wvu.edu, MOUNTAINEER E-News and enews.wvu.edu and social media channels.

Unless the University is closed, employees will need to work with their supervisors to take annual leave or flex their schedule within the work week. 

Students should inform and work with their instructors and work supervisors regarding expected absences due to weather. Faculty should also make every effort to notify students in advance if they need to cancel class.

Students, faculty and staff are also encouraged to review WVU’s inclement weather policy and procedures.

-WVU-

CONTACT: University Relations/Communications
304.293.6997

ak/1/29/19

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