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Hurricane Preparedness

While severe weather can happen at any time, the late summer and fall months are the most common times for hurricanes to occur. Durham and Duke University have historically been affected by hurricanes, with significant storms like Fran in 1996 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Hurricanes can bring heavy rain, high winds, flooding, tornadoes, power outages, and downed trees, all of which can impact the daily operations and safety of the community.

Duke LiveSafe and Duke Alert: Duke LiveSafe is a free mobile app that offers real-time, two-way communication between Duke community members and the Duke University Police Department. In the event of a hurricane impacting Duke's campus, you can be notified through Duke Alert, which includes a variety of notification methods such as email, text messaging, web, phone, an outdoor warning system, and campus digital signboards.

Know the difference between a Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning:

• Tornado Watch: Be Prepared - Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area.
• Tornado Warning: Take Action - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows.

Stay off the road if possible: If you encounter flood water, remember, turn around...don't drown. Avoid driving through flooded areas and seek higher ground immediately.

By following these steps, the Duke community can better protect themselves and their loved ones during hurricane events.