South Mississippi Expected to Feel Impacts of Tropical Storm Gordon
Mon, 09/03/2018 - 01:46pm
Members of the University community on the Gulf Coast and in Hattiesburg are asked to monitor news reports concerning Tropical Storm Gordon, which is expected to produce heavy rain and possible coastal and inland flooding as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast late Tuesday. Heavy rainfall and the potential for high winds and associated flooding are the greatest threats for hazardous weather as part of the storm, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
University officials are in contact with local emergency management agencies on the Gulf Coast and in Hattiesburg, and will continue monitoring weather conditions surrounding this system.
If necessary, the University's Eagle Alert system will be activated to notify members of the University community of severe weather impacts that could affect USM, or if a school closure or cancellation of classes at one or more campus is warranted.
At this time, please take a moment to check your contact information in the Eagle Alert system at https://www.usm.edu/safety/eagle-alert. While Gordon's wind speeds are not currently forecast to reach hurricane status, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to also review the 2018 Hurricane Preparedness Guide provided by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at http://www.msema.org/hurricane2018/.
Motorists at USM campuses, teaching and research sites are reminded to use caution during times of heavy rain and not enter flooded areas.
At the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Halstead site in Ocean Springs, motorists should be aware of the potential for flooding on Halstead Road near the site's entrance.
Motorists on the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach should be aware of the potential for damage from flooding to parked vehicles at the shared parking lot with St. Thomas Catholic Church on the west side of campus, along Beach Park Place, as well as the four-way stop at Bear Point and Gulf Park drives.
While Gordon's impact is expected to be most significant on the Gulf Coast, conditions may also make some streets on the Hattiesburg campus impassable or hazardous to navigate. Locations on the Hattiesburg campus where flooding occurs that could cause damage to vehicles parked in these areas include the following:
- Pine Haven Circle around Sorority Village
- Montague Boulevard between Kay James Drive and Ross Boulevard
- 10 parking spaces on south end of Fraternity Drive (west side of street) at Montague Boulevard
- Fourth Street between Golden Eagle Avenue and Eagle Walk
- Southern Miss Drive between 30th and 31st Avenues
- Ray Guy Way at Century Park South/Spirit Park
- South end of Kay James Drive at Montague Boulevard (next to the DuBard School)
- Trent Lott Center west lot, next to M.M. Roberts Stadium
- Ray Guy Way at Eagle Walk by the raised crosswalk
- Parking area at the southwest corner of McCarty Hall