<p>So, I’m sitting in the Denver airport waiting for the last leg of my Parents Weekend flight home, grateful to be out of the storm’s path as I’m sure air travel from the east coast will begin to be uncertain soon. I felt bad for the kids whose families were cancelling or modifying plans for this long weekend (Choate is on break through Tuesday evening).</p>
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<p>Though students are supposed to be back on campus by 7:30 Tues night, Dr. Curtis said the school, of course, will be more concerned for safety than deadlines.</p>
<p>DS is one of only a handful of students left in his dorm. Initially, he was rather put out that I was going home today, but now he’s glad we hadn’t made plans that needed to be cancelled and, in typical boy fashion, he’s hoping for a wild adventure. Sigh.</p>
<p>How is the impending storm affecting your family or your child’s school/plans?</p>
<p>Back earlier this afternoon from a wonderful Parents Weekend at St. Andrew’s in Delaware. Our inspiring and “eveready” headmaster assured us before we left that preparations are in place. The geography of the school and track of the hurricane is such that the tidal storm surge and probable loss of power are the big concerns, along with tree limbs coming down on campus. The three days worth of generator power was cited. There are plenty of solid and cavernous places to shelter on this campus, and our 300 students no doubt will play hard and sleep late, classes being canceled for Monday and maybe Tuesday as well.<br>
My cautionary advice for students (and for parents of students to relate) is about being outside and exposure to different types of water suction. Any flow of water is going to be under tremendously increased pressure, especially when access to an open pipe is available or there is a stream/river current. The threat of being carried away is real (in a car or individually), and that is an “adventure” kids need to be wary of. The state of New Jersey had at least two fatalities last year during Hurricane Irene (that I know of) from each of these sorts of drownings.</p>
<p>@Charger78: I was happy to hear that Founders Hall is on a generator as are a few other buildings on campus. On our way out of town on Saturday night, we picked up a cheap sleeping bag for SevenDaughter for the I’m sure inevitable “Great Founders Sleepover of 2012”! Believe me, I’d rather be sleeping inside the stone fortress that is Founders Hall than my own low-lying home tonight!</p>
<p>Update: The Choate emergency alert system dialed my phone at 5 AM (thanks) to say that fall long weekend has been extended to Thursday and to continue watching the website for updates. I’ve been checking in on campus via the webcam (love that thing) and can see rain and wind, but the trees aren’t bending too much and students are still walking by, so it doesn’t look too bad yet. Choate has backup power and evac facilities, so I’m not too concerned there. The school weathered Irene better than most, but this has the potential to be worse, so I guess we can only wait and see.</p>
<p>Don’t worry ChoatieMom, the students there will be fine. In my experience at the school, they are very careful with student safety, and are used to dealing with blizzards that produce two feet of snow, ice storms, hurricanes- this is New England unfortunately!</p>
<p>SPS doesn’t seem to be right in the hurricane path, but they’re keeping an eye on things. There was a huge flood in 2006 that resulted in some major changes in the physical plant and disaster preparedness. </p>
<p>We did get an email letting us know the woods are out of bounds and students need to be in their dorms by 8:00 p.m. I’m sure the early check in is not popular!</p>
<p>Mercersburg received plenty of rain and high winds. The assistant head of school kept the parents informed of current conditions and contingency plans which included having meals delivered to the dorms if conditions deteriorated and students needed to stay put. Some downed trees, lots of squishy shoes, and a general attitude of excitement among the kids. Classes were cancelled for today due to the day student population.</p>