UPDATE 10/5/16 @ 10:02 — As of 10 a.m. today, the UNF Crisis Management Team announced classes and campus activities will be canceled after 3 p.m. today through Oct. 8.
As Matthew inches closer to the first coast, Governor Rick Scott addressed the state of Florida once again telling residents to prepare for a “devastating” storm.
“I hope no one in this state takes any chances,” Scott said.
In the press conference, Scott announced the Eastern Florida State College, in Melbourne, has announced it will be closed Thursday through Sunday.
UNF will not be announcing whether or not classes will be canceled until noon Wednesday. Jacksonville University will be announcing closures at 5 p.m. today. UF and UCF have also not announced whether or not classes will be canceled.
Some students believe this is too late of an announcement and not enough time for them to prepare.
“I feel that UNF should should be telling their students about cancellations or lack thereof earlier than noon [today] because students need to be able to plan, especially since there have already been evacuations in parts of South Carolina,” senior Hannah Guille said, something other students agree with.
South Carolina colleges announced their closures Tuesday, although they will be affected by Matthew after Jacksonville. Citadel College closed at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and the College of Charleston also closed Tuesday at 6 p.m.
“My mom lives 6 hours away so if I wait too long to leave I’ll possibly end up driving for twice as long or more with the traffic,” senior Celise Blackman said. “They need to give us more time to plan. This could potentially be really bad and one day isn’t nearly enough time to figure out where you’re going and who’s riding with who, getting food and water, and what not.”
Other students feel that making the announcement by noon is enough time to prepare.
“I think UNF announcing that they are canceling classes by noon should be plenty of time for Thursday and Friday classes,” senior Skyler Iffland said.
Duval is currently under a hurricane watch. For hurricane coverage updated every hour, check the hurricane tab on our website.
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