Working through life’s storms: On-campus operations during and after Helene
Photo courtesy of JJ Holt
Carolyn Christopher, Staff Writer
North Greenville University jumped into action during and immediately after hurricane Helene. Every area of the university worked as a unified front to ease concerns and provide for students in the best way possible.
The university campus suffered an estimated 15 fallen trees and flooding. The Plaster Center and the 1892 Place suffered minor water damage. Several student and faculty houses had basement water damage.
Fallen trees and power lines caused severe blockage of the roads immediately surrounding campus. Those roads included highway 414 and Blackwell Road.
Before the hurricane, steps were taken to protect students. Campus security conducted coordination meetings with campus departments and executives.
Through the storm, communications were kept with Greenville County Emergency Management and local first responders. The weather was continually monitored through media outlets and the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
The first step after the hurricane was to assess the well-being of the students and the conditions of the dorms, specifically considering possible flooding issues.
“Our first priority is always making sure our students are safe and, facility-wise, what can we do next,” said Brittany Hendricks, assistant vice president of student life, CMSE (Campus Ministries and Student Engagement).
Hendricks reported that all NGU students survived the hurricane, whether they were on campus or elsewhere. There was an active “shelter in place” order on campus set by campus security. They activated it as the storm approached to maintain the safety and security of everyone on and around campus.
Chief Jeff Smith with campus security reported efficient communication between the students and campus security regarding concerns, questions and information.
“I believe the university did an outstanding job on relaying pertinent information and updates via the notification systems we have in place like LiveSafe,” Smith said.
As far as campus security is aware, there was only one instance of a student’s vehicle being damaged by a fallen tree.
Between the Saturday and Sunday following the hurricane, approximately 100 students stayed on campus. Flashlights were passed out to as many students as possible.
Generators were brought in to power the Stud and game room area below the cafeteria. Thanks to the efforts of CMSE, activities such as video games, a movie night, a bonfire and pickleball allowed students to relax and keep community with one another.
Aramark, NGU’s food provider, brought a team in to feed students throughout the power outage from the Friday to Tuesday following the hurricane.
“We never had to worry that we were not going to have a meal,” Hendricks said.
NGU athletics had to make many changes to their schedules prior to the hurricane. Five in-season sports games between Saturday, September 28, and Wednesday, October 2, were cancelled and rescheduled. In-season sports teams were sent home until power was restored to campus. Out-of-season teams were sent home after their practices were cancelled.
“Once power was restored mid-week, we communicated to the student athletes to make their way back to prepare for weekend games,” said Will Lowrey, director of athletics.
Approximately 150 athletes from fall sports helped with cleanup after the storm.
The NGU football team worked alongside a chainsaw ministry to clear fallen trees around campus. The men and women’s soccer teams volunteered with local ministries, collecting and distributing supplies to those impacted by the hurricane.
The university’s current focus is to continue to support students who may have been affected by the hurricane. CMSE is also reevaluating how they handled the situation, what they could do differently and how they can better prepare for future circumstances similar to the hurricane.
