The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is estimated to be highly active. Projections suggest 24 named storms, with 11 anticipated to become hurricanes, according to The Weather Channel and Atmospheric G2. Six hurricanes are forecasted to become Category 3 or higher, presenting substantial threats to coastal and inland regions.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Personal Planning

At UCF, teams plan and train for hurricane season year-round. UCF’s Emergency Management team works hard to prevent, prepare for, manage and recover from a variety of threats to UCF, including severe weather.

UCF is a designated StormReady university through the National Weather Service.

In addition to the work being done at the central level, led by the Department of Emergency Management, we encourage all departments to evaluate their own hurricane procedures and staffing plans at this time, in advance of an imminent storm.

When tropical weather systems are threatening, Emergency Management is in communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center. If a serious storm or hurricane threatens our region, Governor Ron DeSantis and UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright have the authority to cancel classes or close campuses. UCF often does so in consultation with other area colleges, school districts and government officials.

We encourage students and UCF employees to put together their own hurricane safety kits and to create a plan with their families and loved ones should a storm impact Central Florida.

Prepping a Hurricane Kit

Knights should assemble a hurricane kit, which should provide enough essentials to survive at least three days. Kits should include:

• Water
• Nonperishable food
• Weather radio
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Batteries
• Can opener
• Cash
• Cell phone charge
• Identification cards
• Any necessary prescription medications

This year’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday extends June 1-14. This two-week tax holiday allows Floridians to prepare for hurricane season while saving money on essential disaster preparedness items.

How to Stay Informed

The UCF Alert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community notified of severe weather threats. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via . A parent, spouse or other secondary contact’s email address also can be added, allowing them to receive the updates.

In addition to UCF Alert messages, details about any class cancelations, impact to services or campus closures will be shared on the UCF homepage, and @UCF and @UCFPolice on social media. Faculty members also are encouraged to post any changes to class assignments due to campus closures on Webcourses.

UCF has been impacted by hurricanes before, and we have been able to weather those storms while maintaining our strong commitment to academic excellence and student success.

While we hope for a hurricane-free season, it is always best to prepare and educate yourself in advance of a storm, especially in time such as now that requires extra considerations and flexibility.

Let’s each do our part by staying aware and prepared, and together, we’ll make UCF a safer place for all of us.

Hurricane Isaias is forecast to move northward along or near the East Central Florida coastline Saturday and Sunday, bringing heavy rain and inland wind gusts of 35-55 miles per hour.

The Emergency Management team is in communication with our local National Weather Service office in Melbourne, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center to ensure the university has the latest information.

It’s always a good idea to have a hurricane kit ready for the season, which lasts through November. Include enough food and water for three days, and don’t forget medications, identification and a weather radio.

The #UCFAlert text and email message system will be used to keep the university community notified of severe weather threats. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via .

Additionally, updates will be shared on UCF’s official social media channels, primarily Facebook (Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý) and Twitter ( and ), and at ucf.edu

Let’s each do our part by staying aware and prepared, and together, we’ll make UCF a safer place for all of us.

Several of those UCF Alert communication tools will be tested Oct. 2.

In preparation for the testing, students and faculty and staff members are encouraged to log in to myUCF and review their UCF Alert settings to ensure that contact information (email, cell phone number and mobile provider) is correct.

The emergency communication functions that will be tested Oct. 2 include:

• Outdoor sirens, which emit a tone followed by voice instructions, will be tested at noon.

• The UCF website will be tested from noon to 1 p.m. For most of the testing time, the UCF home page will remain active and fully functional with an alert bar at the top of the page. All messages on the alert bar will be marked as tests. A portion of the website test will involve replacing the regular home page with an entirely text-only home page that may be used during some emergencies. When that text-only page is active, users will not be able to access links typically found on the UCF home page. Although other UCF web pages will not be impacted by the test, users may want to bookmark those pages in advance.

• A test emergency text and email will be sent around 1 p.m. All members of the UCF community whose UCF Alert contact information is up to date and who have not opted out of receiving emergency messages should receive both. UCF Mobile app users who have opted into push notifications also will receive a message through the app.

• Indoor sirens that emit tones followed by voice instructions will be briefly tested in more than 70 buildings starting at 3 p.m.

The UCF Alert testing also will include social media. For consistent updates and information in an emergency, follow UCF and the UCF Police Department on Twitter and Facebook. These are helpful resources for the UCF community every day and become official resources for information during emergencies.

For more information on the UCF Alert system, visit .

Tuesday Update | FAQs | Where to Monitor Campus Updates | How to Prepare | A Note from Police Chief | What Makes Hurricanes Dangerous (VIDEO)

Wednesday Update

UCF did not sustain any major damage from Hurricane Dorian.  There was no reported power loss and only minimal debris on campus, which is being cleaned up. UCF will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 5, and reopen Friday, Sept. 6.

Students who were required to move into campus ride-out locations in anticipation of hurricane-force winds have been permitted to return to their residence halls.

Several dining options have reopened including Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger U, Domino’s (at the Breezeway), Jimmy John’s and Smoothie King (outside the Student Union). Knightro’s will open on Thursday at 11 a.m. 

On Friday, ’63 South will open at 11 a.m., Chick-fil-A will open at 10:30 a.m. and the following restaurants in the Student Union will open: Cafe Bustelo (8 a.m.), Qdoba (10 a.m.), Panda Express (10:30 a.m.), Huey Magoos (10:30 a.m.), and Knightstop (9 a.m.).

All academic assignments, including those in classes with online components, remain suspended until classes resume Friday.

UCF continues to encourage faculty to be flexible with students who heeded early warnings and chose to evacuate. Students should not be impacted academically for putting their personal safety first, and any student who has difficulty returning in time for Friday classes should contact their faculty members directly.

The UCF Creative School for Children will reopen on Friday.

UCF Downtown, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona and all regional campuses will remain closed on Thursday. In addition, some regional campuses may remain closed longer until their partner institutions resume operations. More information is available in the hurricane coverage at www.ucf.edu.

As we return to normal operations at UCF, there are resources available to assist students who have been impacted by Hurricane Dorian.

The Knights Helping Knights Pantry, which will open Friday, provides free food, toiletries, clothing and other items to students, no questions asked. UCF students who present a valid student ID can pick out as many as five food items a day, and there’s no limit on toiletries or clothing. Knights Pantry is in Ferrell Commons by All Knight Study.

If you purchased more food than needed to prepare for Hurricane Dorian, please consider donating unused items to Knights Pantry. Donations can be made at the pantry or any of the drop off boxes located across campus.

UCF Cares is available to assist with overall student well-being, including financial difficulties. Student Care Services’ office in Ferrell Commons will reopen Friday, and staff members can be reached at 407-823-5607 or ucfcares@ucf.edu.

Employees who are having concerns related to the weather or who are in emotional crisis can contact UCF’s Employee Assistance Program, HealthAdvocate, for assistance. Eligible employees and their dependents can receive free, confidential assistance anytime 24/7 by calling 877-240-6863.

Human Resources also has a Disaster Planning, Relief, and Recovery Resource Guide.

Additional updates will be shared via UCF Alert, UCF’s website, and the UCF and UCF Police social media feeds.

Check out Frequently Asked Questions related to Hurricane Dorian.

Where to Monitor Campus Updates

UCF will monitor the hurricane and share more information about campus closures and openings as information is available. Regular updates can be found at:

• UCF’s website,
• UCF and the UCF Police Department’s social media accounts, primarily Facebook (Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý) and Twitter ( and )
• UCF Alert

Another useful resource for keeping up to date on severe weather affecting the UCF area is the OEM-NOTICE listserv, an email service that will notify students, faculty, and staff of severe weather that could impact UCF’s campuses.

The listserv does not replace UCF Alert, which remains the first way the UCF community will be notified of an existing emergency or threat to UCF’s campuses. Instead, this listserv is an additional way to notify those who sign up of potential weather-related threats to UCF.

To subscribe, email listserv@listserv.cc.ucf.edu with “subscribe OEM-NOTICE” in the body of the message. The subject line should be left blank, and be sure to send the email from the address at which you wish to receive emails. To unsubscribe, follow the same instructions with “signoff OEM-NOTICE” in the body of the email.

How to Prepare

Now is the time to review personal emergency plans and prepare to initiate them in the event of a major change to the storm’s path and intensity.

UCF Associate Professor Christopher Emrich, an expert in hazard science, social vulnerability, disaster recovery and community resiliency, recommends keeping a stock of nonperishable food items and having an evacuation plan, among other key preparation steps.

A Note from UCF Police Chief Carl Metzger

As we start the fall semester, the UCF Police Department reminds you to make safety a personal priority.

Hurricane Dorian is top of mind for our community, and UCF is taking all precautions to prepare for any potential impact.

Now is the time to prepare, not panic. Have a plan for your personal safety and communication with loved ones. Also consider stocking up basic necessities, such as nonperishable food, water, flashlights, medication and other supplies that could be useful during hurricane season, which lasts through Nov. 30.

Information will continue to be shared here, and any urgent updates will be communicated via UCF Alert. All incoming students and faculty and staff members are automatically signed up to receive UCF Alert text and email messages. Now is a good time to double-check your contact information in and potentially add a secondary email contact, such as a parent or partner.

UCFPD is excited to introduce several new safety initiatives this fall, including enhanced safety features in the UCF Mobile app, a Community Outreach Center in the Student Union coming soon, and a new safety website.

Most importantly, we want you to remember that UCFPD is here for you. Officers patrol campus 24/7/365, and dispatchers are always available to take your call. Never be afraid to dial 911 if you need to reach us.

Stay safe, and Charge On.

Learn More About What Makes Hurricanes So Dangerous

UCF has been designated a StormReady institution for encouraging communities to take a proactive approach to improve hazardous-weather education and preparedness in partnership with the National Weather Service.

The university first earned the designation as a StormReady º£½ÇÖ±²¥ in 2010 and has maintained its standing ever since. As a result, the plans, technology and warning systems in place helped immensely when Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Irma (2017) affected university operations.

Several of those UCF Alert communication tools will be tested Wednesday, March 6.

In preparation for Wednesday’s alert testing, students and faculty and staff members are encouraged to log in to and review their UCF Alert settings to ensure that contact information (email, cell phone number, and mobile provider) is correct.

The emergency communication functions that will be tested Wednesday include:

The UCF Alert testing also will include social media posts from official UCF accounts.

For more information on the UCF Alert emergency communication system, visit www.emergency.ucf.edu/ucfalert.html.

Several of those UCF Alert communication tools will be tested Wednesday, March 7.

In preparation for Wednesday’s Alert testing, students and faculty and staff members are encouraged to log in to myUCF and review their UCF Alert settings to ensure that contact information (email, cell phone number, and mobile provider) is correct.

The emergency communication functions that will be tested Wednesday include:

-Outdoor sirens, which emit a tone followed by voice instructions, will be tested at noon.

-The UCF website, www.ucf.edu, will be tested from 1 to 2 p.m. For most of the testing time, the UCF home page will remain active and fully functional with an alert bar at the top of the page. All messages on the alert bar will be marked as tests. A portion of the web site test will involve replacing the regular home page with an entirely text-only home page that may be used during some emergencies. When that text-only page is active, users will not be able to access links typically found on the UCF home page. Although other UCF web pages will not be impacted by the test, users may want to bookmark those pages in advance.

-A test emergency text and email will be sent around 1 p.m. All members of the UCF community whose UCF Alert contact information is up to date and who have not opted out of receiving emergency messages should receive both.

-Indoor sirens that emit tones followed by voice instructions will be briefly tested in more than 70 buildings starting at 3 p.m.

The UCF Alert testing also will include social media.

For more information on the UCF Alert emergency communication system, visit www.emergency.ucf.edu/ucfalert.html.

Several of those UCF Alert communication tools will be tested Thursday, July 20.

In preparation for Thursday’s Alert testing, students and faculty and staff members are encouraged to log in to myUCF and review their UCF Alert settings to ensure that contact information (email, cell phone number, and mobile provider) is correct.

The emergency communication functions that will be tested Thursday include:

-Indoor sirens that emit tones followed by voice instructions will be briefly tested in more than 70 buildings starting at 12:15 p.m.

-The UCF website, www.ucf.edu, will be tested from 1 to 2 p.m. For most of the testing time, the UCF home page will remain active and fully functional with an alert bar at the top of the page. All messages on the alert bar will be marked as tests. A portion of the web site test will involve replacing the regular home page with an entirely text-only home page that may be used during some emergencies. When that text-only page is active, users will not be able to access links typically found on the UCF home page. Although other UCF web pages will not be impacted by the test, users may want to bookmark those pages in advance.

-A test emergency text and email will be sent around 1 p.m. All members of the UCF community whose UCF Alert contact information is up to date and who have not opted out of receiving emergency messages should receive both.

-Outdoor sirens, which emit a tone followed by voice instructions, will be tested at 3 p.m.

The UCF Alert testing also will include WUCF-89.9 FM and social media.

For more information on the UCF Alert emergency communication system, visit www.emergency.ucf.edu/ucfalert.html.

Several of those UCF Alert communication tools will be tested Wednesday, March 8. This semester’s testing is timed with Safe Knight Week, an annual opportunity to learn about self-care, violence prevention and emergency preparedness.

A listing of Safe Knight Week events is here.

In preparation for Wednesday’s Alert testing, students and faculty and staff members are encouraged to log in to myUCF and review their UCF Alert settings to ensure that contact information (email, cell phone number, and mobile provider) is correct.

The emergency communication functions that will be tested Wednesday include:

The UCF Alert testing also will include WUCF-89.9 FM, social media and HEARO emergency radios that the university provides many employees who assist with emergency responses.

For more information on the UCF Alert emergency communication system, visit www.emergency.ucf.edu/ucfalert.html.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona, and Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando follow the main campus’ schedule. UCF regional campus locations will follow the decisions made by their respective host state college.

There will be no classes at UCF Daytona Beach on Monday due to the continued closure of host partner Daytona State College.

Students who live on campus may call 407-823-5223 to report any damage to their on-campus living quarters.

Early assessments of campus indicate minimal damage, though cleanup will take time to complete. Those returning to UCF and Central Florida should ensure that their path is safe for travel before they leave and be mindful of debris on the road.

Deadlines for online assignments will not be enforced during the university’s closure for Hurricane Matthew. This includes any online coursework or other assignments due from 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, until the university reopens Sunday. Any specific questions about assignments should be directed to individual faculty members.

Previous storm-related updates are available here: /alert/

During an actual emergency, the UCF website, www.ucf.edu, is the best place to find the latest updates.

The main UCF website will test its emergency functions from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, but will remain fully functional during the test. An alert bar will be featured at the top of the page and all messages on the alert bar will be marked as tests.

A part of the website test will involve replacing the regular home page with an entirely text-only home page that may be used during some emergencies. During this time, links that can normally be found on the home page may not be available. Other web pages will not be impacted by the test, but users may want to bookmark those pages in advance.

Outdoor sirens, which emit a tone followed by voice instructions, will be tested at noon.

More than 40 buildings on UCF’s campus feature an indoor notification system that is similar to the outdoor sirens. These will be tested from 3 to 3:30 p.m. and each test will last only a few minutes to avoid disruptions to classes and other activities.

A test emergency text message and e-mail will be sent out at 12:30 p.m. This message should be received by all students, staff and faculty members who have updated cell phone information on file through MyUCF and who have not opted out of receiving emergency messages.

Updates can be made to text and email preferences through the following steps after signing on to MyUCF.

UCF provides many campus personnel who assist with emergency responses with HEARO emergency radios. Radios, which are also in key campus buildings such as residence halls and the Student Union, will be tested at 2 p.m.

WUCF-89.9 FM will conduct a test of its emergency broadcast capabilities at 4 p.m.

The university’s and pages, which serve as additional methods of notifications, will be updated with information about the tests.

Visit the UCF Alert website for more information on the communication system that helps to keep the campus safe and informed during emergencies.