FAQS for Hurricane Preparation/Evacuation
Parents | Students | Faculty/Staff | General Media
PARENTS
How does Loyola prepare its students for the possibility of hurricanes?
All Loyola students are required to file a Personal Evacuation Plan with the university indicating an evacuation location and emergency contact information. The form should be updated if plans change. It is available through the Loyola Online Records Access (LORA). Students are urged to provide their parents with the same information. Students should also update their currently preferred email through LORA.
If a hurricane threatens New Orleans, Loyola University will keep you informed of the status of operations on campus, including class cancellations and evacuations. Complete official information is communicated on the Emergency Information Line (504-865-2186) and the Loyola home page, www.loyno.edu.
How can I contact my student?
Parents can, at any time, call the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at 504-865-3030. However, we cannot stress enough the need to plan ahead. Parents should insist that students file and continually update their personal evacuation plan and share this information with them. Also, we encourage students prior to hurricane season to coordinate with their parents and give numerous possible contact numbers for places they may go in an emergency and to share friends’ names and cell phone numbers.
I have exhausted all other means but can’t reach my student—who can help me?
Students who are unable to evacuate the area on their own will be assisted by university personnel in the evacuation. You may contact Director of Residential Life Robert Reed at 504-494-4824 to find out if your son or daughter has been evacuated with the university.
Where have students been evacuated?
Students who are unable to evacuate the area on their own will be taken to the Catholic high school, St. Michael the Archangel in Baton Rouge.
Who can answer my questions?
Until such time as the campus has been evacuated, you may always contact the main offices of Loyola administration at 504-865-3847. Once the order to evacuate has been given, Loyola will put in place its Emergency Hotline Number that people can call for the latest pre-recorded emergency information. That number is 504-865-2186 or toll free,1-888-94LOYNO. These numbers, along with all other up-to-date emergency information, will always be available and prominently displayed on the Loyola website.
How long will this evacuation last?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How long will operations on the campus be suspended?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How will I know when it is safe for my student to return to Loyola?
Before any students will be allowed back on campus, Loyola officials will have deemed it safe for return. Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
When will classes resume?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
What about Blackboard? How does that work?
Please refer to the student guide link at www.loyno.edu for instructions on how to use Blackboard.
Is there any physical damage to the university?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Are student records safe?
Yes. All official university records are maintained both on campus and in a secure off-site location out-of-state.
Am I due a refund for costs associated with tuition, student fees, or campus meals and lodging?
This will likely depend upon the circumstances and timing of the evacuation and length of the subsequent closure. Students and parents will be informed of their options as soon as they become available. Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
What are you doing to help students who live off-campus prepare for future emergencies?
We encourage all students living off-campus to have the emergency recommendations brochure and file their own emergency preparedness plan. Also, as in the case of on-campus students, we cannot stress enough the importance of planning ahead and ensuring that parents have all necessary contact information.
STUDENTS
Who can answer my questions?
Until such time as the campus has been evacuated, you may always contact the main offices of Loyola administration at 504-865-3847. Once the order to evacuate has been given, Loyola will put in place its Emergency Hotline Number that people can call for the latest pre-recorded emergency information. That number is 504-865-2186 or toll free,1-888-94LOYNO. This number, along with all other up-to-date emergency information, will always be available and prominently displayed on the Loyola website.
How long will this evacuation last?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How long will operations on the campus be suspended?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How will I know when it is safe to return to Loyola?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
When will classes resume?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
What do I do about my class assignments?
This will likely depend upon the circumstances and timing of the suspension of university operations. In the event of a short-duration evacuation (one week or less), all coursework issues will be handled by your instructor once classes resume. In the event of a longer-duration evacuation (48 hours), the Blackboard system will be activated for all courses.
How do I access Blackboard?
Please refer to the student guide link at www.loyno.edu for instructions on how to use Blackboard.
I couldn’t get into Blackboard—who can help me?
Please check with the 24/7 Campus Help Desk hosted by a Blackboard student guide.
I didn’t see my course(s) on Blackboard—who can help me?
Please check with the 24/7 Campus Help Desk hosted by a Blackboard student guide. If this does not resolve your issue, please contact your instructor directly via Loyola email.
How will this evacuation affect my ability to graduate on time?
It will have no effect on your graduation status.
Do I need to enroll in another college or university?
This will likely depend upon the circumstances and timing of the evacuation and length of the subsequent suspension of operations. Students and parents will be informed of their options as soon as they become available. Loyola policy is to make up classes with a brief semester extension if we miss four or more days due. Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Is there any damage to the university?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Are my records safe?
Yes. All official university records are maintained both on campus and in a secure off-site location out-of-state.
Am I due a refund for costs associated with tuition, student fees, or campus meals and lodging?
This will likely depend upon the circumstances and timing of the evacuation and length of the subsequent suspension of operations. Students and parents will be informed of their options as soon as they become available. Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
I left personal items in my dorm room. When can I retrieve them?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information. Also, please refer to your Loyola student guide for further instructions on this matter.
FACULTY AND STAFF
NOTE: All faculty and staff members are reminded to continually check the Loyola website, (www.loyno.edu), for all updated information.
Where have students been evacuated?
Students who are unable to evacuate the area on their own will be taken to the Catholic high school, St. Michael the Archangel in Baton Rouge.
Who can answer my questions?
Until such time as the campus has been evacuated, you may always contact the main offices of Loyola administration at 504-865-3847. Once the order to evacuate has been given, Loyola will put in place its Emergency Hotline Number that people can call for the latest pre-recorded emergency information. That number is 504-865-2186 or toll free,1-888-94LOYNO. This number, along with all other up-to-date emergency information, will always be available and prominently displayed on the Loyola website.
How will I know when it is safe to return to work?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
When will classes resume?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Who is making decisions about the university while operations are suspended?
The key administrative team will be evacuated together to Dallas where Father Wildes, along with the university cabinet, will continue to make any and all decisions that affect the institution.
How long will this evacuation last?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How long will operations on the campus be suspended?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Will I be paid, and my benefits continue, while the university is closed?
Depending on the duration of the evacuation, a decision will be made as to the continuation of salary and benefits.
I have not yet put my coursework on Blackboard. How do I do that?
Please contact the 24/7 Blackboard help desk.
Is there any damage to the university?
Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Are personnel and student records safe?
Yes. All official university records are maintained both on campus and in a secure off-site location out-of-state.
GENERAL/MEDIA
Have all students living on campus been accounted for?
All students are required to submit a personal emergency evacuation plan with the university before moving into the residence halls. Students with special needs will be evacuated by the university.
Have all university employees been accounted for?
The university will work to ensure that both student and employee safety is the first concern during any emergency situation. All university employees are asked to contact their immediate supervisor to notify them of their whereabouts during an evacuation.
Who is in charge of the university, and where are they?
The key administrative team will be evacuated together to Dallas where Loyola President Rev. Kevin Wildes, along with the university cabinet, will continue to make any and all decisions that affect the institution.
Where have students been evacuated?
Students who are unable to evacuate the area on their own will be taken to the Catholic high school, St. Michael the Archangel in Baton Rouge.
Who can answer my questions?
Until such time as the campus has been evacuated, you may always contact the main offices of Loyola administration at 504-865-3847. Once the order to evacuate has been given, Loyola will put in place its Emergency Hotline Number that people can call for the latest pre-recorded emergency information. That number is 504-865-2186 or toll free,1-888-94LOYNO. This number, along with all other up-to-date emergency information, will always be available and prominently displayed on the Loyola website.
Have there been any injuries?
Please contact the Loyola Office of Public Affairs and/or refer to the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How long will this evacuation last?
Please contact the Loyola Office of Public Affairs and/or refer to the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
How long will operations on the campus be suspended?
Please contact the Loyola Office of Public Affairs and/or refer to the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
When will you make a decision about when the university will resume operations?
Please contact the Loyola Office of Public Affairs and/or refer to the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Is there any damage to the university? If so, how much?
Please contact the Loyola Office of Public Affairs and/or refer to the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
Are student records safe?
Yes. All official university records are maintained both on campus and in a secure off-site location out-of-state.
Will refunds be offered for costs associated with tuition, student fees, or campus meals and lodging?
This will likely depend upon the circumstances and timing of the evacuation and length of the subsequent closure. Students and parents will be informed of their options as soon as they become available. Please check the Loyola website, www.loyno.edu, for all updated information.
What did you do differently this time from what happened during Katrina?
Katrina was an unprecedented disaster, but also a learning experience for the university. After Katrina, we took many measures based upon the experience to ensure that the university would continue to operate in as seamless a manner as possible given the circumstances. While it is nearly impossible to adequately prepare for all situations, we have taken certain steps, such as the following:
- Ensured all students living on campus have personal emergency plans.
- Expanded offerings and expertise in hybrid online courses by building upon the Blackboard system. We have also installed measures that will allow Blackboard to service all university courses for an interim period of time.
- Better developed our ability to communicate with all of our audiences, including students, parents, faculty, staff and media, in the case of an emergency.
