It's getting to be that time of year, again -- when knowing where to get accurate information about the effect of inclement weather on Cornell's operations becomes increasingly important.
A good example from early this year was Jan. 19, a Friday. It was an unusually warm and rainy day; there was a lot of snow on the ground. As water throughout Central New York began to rise, so did anxiety levels around the university. Traditionally, this type of event creates a volume of phone calls that ties up Cornell's state-of-the-art telephone system.
Given that situation, or one like it, here are some things to remember:
Keeping phone lines open
In order to maintain safety on campus, the phone system needs to work; if the lines to the departments of Transportation Services, Grounds, and to Cornell Police are crippled, it results in frustration, and no one can get help or information. Therefore, it is important to avoid using the phone, if at all possible, during weather emergencies, say officials in Facilities and Campus Services. And, especially, they say: Don't call the Cornell Police unless there is an emergency.
Options for information
There are options. Over the past few years the university has made great strides in creating communications avenues to help allay peoples' worries, shut down the rumor mill and stifle misinformation in these types of situations. This fall, there are even more tools at the disposal of members of the Cornell community. What are these tools and how can you use them?
University Operating Status Web Page
The operating status of the university is a mouse click away from the CUINFO home page http://www.cornell.edu . For most people on campus if you start your web browser you find yourself directly on the CUINFO home page. Just click the first link "University" under "Current Status" to find out the latest information (open, closed, etc.). On this page you will find information about all of the options listed in this article as well.
Cornell Info Radio
Located at 530 on the AM radio dial, Cornell Info
Radio
conveys the operating status (open/closed/delayed
opening/early closing) of the university, information about
transit service and listings of campus events. The brief
message repeats over and over and is kept up-to-date.
Electronic Mailing List
This is one of the slicker and more convenient options. Instead of seeking out information, the information comes to you. If the university is closed or closing, you will be the first to know -- electronically and automatically. See the accompanying box for the text of the messages you would have received had you been subscribed on Jan. 19, 1996. To get on this mailing list, subscribe by sending an e-mail message to:
The body of the message should read:
SUBSCRIBE UNIV-CLOSING-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME
(be sure to use your own first name and last name)
Audix Bulletin Boards
You can get prerecorded messages from audix bulletin boards. The "Inclement Weather Phone" operated by the Cornell Police provides information about the operating status of the university. Other audix lines are updated by Cornell Transportation Services, TCAT and bus services from within and outside Tompkins County.
Phone (a last resort, please):
As always, rely upon local radio and television stations for weather information, road conditions and school and event closings and cancellations. The university, transit companies, the police and municipalities use these media consistently.
The information from all of the sources listed above is being coordinated by the same people and will be identical in all venues. You will need to use only one of these resources. Please choose the method that is easiest and most efficient for you and leave the other lines of communication available to those who truly need them because of limited access.
Transportation Services is sending out its winter bulletin this week; enclosed with the newsletter will be a magnet and a wallet card printed with all of the audix, Web and listserv information.
If you had been subscribed to the Univ-Closing-L electronic mailing list on Jan. 19, 1996, you would have received the following messages:
1:55 p.m.
Cornell University will close at 2:30 p.m. 1/19/96 because of weather and flood conditions in Tompkins and surrounding counties. All university events for the remainder of today are canceled.
Bus routes will begin at 2:30 p.m.
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1:57 p.m.
CONFIRMED INFORMATION, CORNELL UNIVERSITY IS CLOSING AT 2:30 P.M.
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2:33 p.m.
Cornell University closed at 2:30 p.m. 1/19/96 because of weather and flood conditions in Tompkins and surrounding counties. All university events for the remainder of Friday were canceled.
Out of county bus routes were scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
The university will officially reopen at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, 1/20/96.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend!
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2:39 p.m.
Additions to previous information -- Cornell University closed at 2:30 p.m.
At 2 p.m. Schuyler County has closed.
Flooding in the west end is being caused by Six Mile Creek overflowing its banks near Meadow Street.
Water is over Rt. 13 south of Ithaca in the area of Buttermilk Falls Park. The Ithaca City Police and Tompkins County Sheriffs Dept. have reported numerous auto accidents in that area.