Bad weather requires students to watch for closure announcements

With wintry weather gusting its way around campus, the college is gearing up for the possibility of closures as finals week approaches.

Russell Johnson, MHCC associate director of facilities management, said there have been instances where the college was closed temporarily because of inclement weather during finals. “However, our faculty was able to reschedule finals to accommodate the students,” he said.

“With ample notification from the (National) Weather Service prior to a weather event, our facilities staff treat all driving surfaces and walkways with magnesium chloride,” Johnson said. “This helps prevent the formation of ice. However, it does not prevent the buildup of snow during a major event.”

According to the MHCC website, information on college closures will be available on the college website (mhcc.edu), through local radio and television stations “and by Flash Alert notification for those that have registered for this service.”

For those unfamiliar with Flash Alert, it’s a tool for the public to get instant and emergency information regarding organizations, schools, hospitals, etc., in their own area. Once the user has subscribed to received alerts on a particular agency, organization or school, they can get updates via e-mail, Twitter, text message, and now, through a new smart phone app, push notifications. There are step-by-step instructions on how to sign up for Flash Alert on MHCC’s website.

“Please pay attention to your local radio and TV stations,” during bad weather, Johnson said. “MHCC tries to make timely announcements that would affect your commute. Facilities makes every effort to keep the campus open or reopen as soon as possible, keeping the safety of our staff and students as the No. 1 priority.”

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