Message Regarding Hurricane Ida

Dear LSU Community,

As we are watching Hurricane Ida rapidly approach the Louisiana coastline, I know that many of you are concerned about the storm. I want to take a moment to assure you that our campus is as prepared as we can possibly be. Those of you who have been part of our community for a while know that because of our location, we are familiar with hurricanes and how to deal with them. But for those who are new to LSU, let me provide you with some information to help ease your minds a bit.

We have an Emergency Operations Center at LSU that is composed of people who are trained to keep our operations running smoothly throughout the storm. We have a certified police force of over 70 officers who work to keep campus safe 24/7. We have a number of time-tested procedures in place to provide for the safety of our students living in our residence halls. And we are constantly in close contact with city, parish and state officials.

Students who live in residence halls will continue to have access to meals, even though campus is closed. Our Residential Life and LSU Dining staffs will provide information directly to these students. Please stay in contact with the Residential Life staff in your hall and follow any instructions they provide. Your safety is our highest priority.

All of our students and employees – whether on or off campus – should take every precaution for this hurricane. This is expected to be a very powerful storm that will have serious impacts for South Louisiana, including the Baton Rouge area. Be prepared for power outages that are likely to last for an extended period of time.

Please use good judgment and be safe during the storm. For those who live off campus, including employees, we ask that you please don’t come to campus until we reopen, unless you are essential personnel instructed to do so by your supervisor. I know many of you will want to check on your buildings, but LSU Police and LSU Facility Services will be carefully assessing the campus after the hurricane passes. We will let you know about the status of campus and will update you as soon as possible on when we plan to reopen.

Watch your LSU email for updates, follow any instructions provided via emergency text message, and keep an eye on LSU’s official social media accounts. We will keep you updated as things progress. In the meantime, please stay safe and out of harm’s way.

William F. Tate IV
LSU President