Power has been restored at all Northwestern State University campuses, including our Leesville-Fort Polk campus, and classes will resume tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 12, following the normal class schedule.

Students should plan to attend in person classes or log in to online classes as usual.

We understand that there will be some students without power and/or internet service.  Computer labs on all NSU campuses will be open and accessible. Students who are still without power or cannot participate in classes because of internet connectivity may find this resource helpful.  We urge professors/instructors to be flexible with students impacted by Hurricane Delta in assignment deadlines and to assist these students as needed.  Your support for all impacted students is very much appreciated.

The Fall ’20 semester has certainly been challenging with COVID-19, Hurricane Laura and now Hurricane Delta.  I want to commend each of you for the resilience that you have exhibited throughout this difficult semester.  Your dedication and willingness to adapt is inspiring. Thank you all!

We will continue to monitor the path and possible impact of Hurricane Delta on the university and our students, faculty and staff.    Outer bands of the storm began coming ashore late this morning in southwestern Louisiana, creating heavy rainfall.   Projections are that the hurricane will make landfall late this afternoon/early evening and move rapidly through central Louisiana into Mississippi tonight and throughout the day tomorrow.  Extensive rain and strong winds are anticipated along the path of the hurricane.  This could result in downed trees, damaged structures and power outages.

Many students remain in campus housing, and staff in Housing, Food Services and other support areas are on campus to assist through the storm.  We encourage everyone to exercise extreme caution during this weather emergency and to observe safety guidelines issued by the National Weather Service and other agencies. Students, faculty, and staff should monitor social media platforms and the university website, https://www.nsula.edu/hurricane-delta-updates/, for updates and additional information.  Emergency messages will be sent through the university’s Purple Alert System if necessary.

Please take precautions and stay safe during this weather event.

Northwestern State’s on-campus residents are asked to complete a survey by clicking here to indicate if they plan to stay on campus this weekend or return to their homes. This information will help Residence Life keep a roster of students who are on campus in the event of an emergency.

Students who already made the decision to go home and have already left are still asked to complete the survey for records. Whether you stay on campus during the hurricane or depart campus, please be safe and ensure you have your residential community’s RA On Call Number saved in your phone. Please note that at this time, the Dining Hall will remain open and operating hours will remain the same.

There are a few precautionary things we recommend you do when dealing with the weather. Significant severe weather is expected this week. Please make note of the following:

Weather can bring on the potential of power loss. Having a flashlight and/or a lantern is recommended. Don’t forget about the batteries! Keep in mind that you are NOT allowed to have candles or anything with open flames. If the power does go out, we will alert University Police and the City of Natchitoches Power Department, so they can bring power back to our communities as soon as possible. Due to the city restoring the power as weather allows, the RA On Call will not have an estimated time of restoration.

• Make sure that you have a supply of bottled water and snacks in the instance that the weather doesn’t allow you to go to the dining hall for a meal.
• Make sure to keep your cell phone charged and any portable chargers should be charged also.
• In the event of lightening or you decide to leave your apartment, remove all plugs from wall in case of a power surge to avoid damage to belongings.
• Be sure to remove all valuables or electrical items from the floor – do not leave your computer, books, Ipad, gaming console, shoes or anything of value on the floor in case there is flooding.
• Please make sure you put any door decs or patio furniture inside your apartment.
• If you decide to leave your apartment, before you depart, turn off all lights, set the AC to 72, close and lock all windows, close window curtains and lock your apartment door.
• Report any leaks to the RA On Call immediately.
• In the case of a tornado, avoid windows. Go into a small center room such as a bathroom or a closet.
• The RA On Call Number should be programmed into your cell phone:

• Stay safe when walking in the rain by avoiding water puddles in case of a hole you may not see. We recommend remaining indoors whenever possible.
• On campus there is an Emergency Alert System that has a siren that will sound and provide a message regarding emergency weather conditions. Please follow the directions announced over the speaker system.
• Continue to watch for email communications from the university as well as Purple Alert texts.
• University Place 2 hallways and entrance have a high condensation rate and will be slippery when wet! Take caution when walking in any area that looks wet.
• If you park in building 3 parking lot of University Place Phase I, it is recommended to move your vehicle to a different parking lot. Major water drains are located in this parking lot and can sometimes back up due to heavy water flow.

In response to the threat of Hurricane Delta, classes on all campuses of Northwestern State University will be held virtually Friday, Oct. 9.  The storm is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rains and possible flash flooding to central Louisiana Friday night and Saturday.

NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio met with state officials and other administrators in making the decision.  Many Friday classes meet virtually and end before noon, according to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Greg Handel.

Faculty and staff will telework from home with only essential personnel on campus Friday. Students should access their courses via myNSU. The university will not be officially closed but will maintain operations in an online format.

Many students are already taking classes virtually and in a hybrid format.  By holding all classes online Friday, students who have face-to-face classes can return to their homes after Thursday if they wish to do so,” Maggio said.

Food services and housing will be open and available to students who remain on campus.  Hours will be posted and updated on NSU’s official social media channels.  The Russell Hall computer lab will remain open and accessible with student ID. Watson Library will be closed Friday and Saturday and will reopen Sunday with regular hours, 2-10 p.m. Hours for other campus libraries is available at library.nsula.edu.

The Modern in Motion VIII dance concert has been postponed to Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17.  Performances will be at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the downtown riverbank in Natchitoches.

Hurricane Delta is expected to make landfall in the Louisiana central coast midday Friday.  The main impact to central and northwest Louisiana will begin Friday afternoon through the morning hours into Saturday with possible wind gusts of 50-80 miles per hour.

Updates will be posted on NSU’s website and social media channels as information becomes available.

Some campus dining hours have been modified due to Hurricane Delta.  These times are subject to change.

Iberville
Friday – Sunday Normal Hours
Friday
7-10 a.m. Breakfast
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch
4:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner
Saturday Sunday
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Brunch
4:30-6:30 Dinner

Chick-fil-a
Friday-Saturday
10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday

Steak n Shake
Friday
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Closed Saturday
Sunday
11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cafe Demon
Friday
7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Closed Saturday
Sunday 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

C-Store 
Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Closed Saturday
Sunday
4-8 p.m.

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