Dear Howard University Community,

The National Weather Service has issued a thunderstorm warning for August 7, for the Washington metropolitan area beginning at approximately 4pm.  

Isolated showers are expected during high-volume afternoon drive time, with damaging winds, hail, and potential tornado activity.

The Department of Public Safety and Division of Student Affairs is actively monitoring forecasts and guidance from municipal and federal weather service agencies, and has determined that severe weather will present unsafe conditions during Bison move-in. If weather changes as expected, we will suspend move-in activity for the remainder of the day for all students and families.

Students and families who arrive to the campus during the severe weather event will be allowed to shelter in their respective designated residence halls until the event has ended, but will not be allowed to carry items to rooms during the storm. If the storm has not ended by 8pm, move-in activities will resume at 10am on August 8. 

Please note that Bison who have not yet departed for campus are encouraged to make alternative travel and move-in plans.

We remind all community members to be safe and to exercise caution while traveling around campus and surrounding areas during this weather event. Please stay clear of construction areas and temporary fences, watch out for flying debris and avoid trees with loose branches and unsecured structures and equipment. 

Researchers should complete or properly save any experiments planned for work tomorrow. As local power outages are possible, employees should save any unsaved documentation. You are also asked to power down or unplug any sensitive or key equipment or other devices that may be impacted by a surge in power. 

We will continue to monitor the forecasts and provide necessary updates on any operational or schedule changes. Please remain safe. 

For more information or to submit a campus safety concern, please contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 202-806-1100.