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Severe Weather

If there is a severe weather warning or you see/hear threatening weather you should:

  • Try and seek shelter and get inside immediately to an interior room or hallway.
  • Make sure that all doors and windows are shut and secure.
  • Stay away from exterior windows and doors.
  • Do not go outside until the storm has past.
  • After the storm has ended be away of any downed wires and falling objects.

In the event the university must be closed due to severe weather

As winter approaches, we want to remind you how weather related closings will be communicated.

If Simmons needs to be closed due to hazardous weather conditions, you will be informed about the closing in the following ways:

1) Simmons Alert — The communication will be made directly to you via Simmons Alert, the University's emergency notification system (also known as RaveAlert). In order to receive these direct notifications, please configure your Simmons Alert contact information as follows:

  • Login to Simmons Workday
  • Navigate to Personal Information > Emergency Contacts
  • Click Edit to edit or add an emergency contact with the relationship of Simmons Alert - Friends and Family.
  • You may list mobile phones, landline phones, and email addresses that should receive Simmons Alert notifications.

Please note: We will NOT send a message to voice phone numbers. This makes it possible to send early morning or late night notifications while minimizing disruption to you and your emergency contacts.

2) WBZ 1030 (AM) Radio and WBZ-TV Channel 4 Television - WBZ News Radio will read the list of school cancelations twice per hour during Storm Center operation and also during the local news updates on the CBS The Early Show Program. The full list of cancelations is also available on line at wbznewsradio.iheart.com and boston.cbslocal.com.

7 News broadcasts on Channel 7 (WHDH) and on Channel 56 (CW) — Cancelations will be displayed during local news updates. A full list of cancelations is also available online at www.whdh.com.

Boston 25 News. Cancelations will be displayed during newscasts and on the website (www.boston25news.com).

Every effort will be made to ensure that a Simmons University closure is made beginning with the 6:35 A.M. newscast. Members of the community who commute from long distances are advised to delay their departure from home until complete cancelation information is available.

3) Simmons Main Telephone Line — The main university telephone line (617-521-2000) will be updated with closing information.

4) Web Posting — A message will be posted on https://www.simmons.edu/

5) Twitter/Facebook — Messages will be posted on Simmons Twitter and Facebook.

Every effort will be made to keep the University open during a snowstorm including making use of delayed openings. If appropriate, the announcement will specify delayed opening time for classes. Most closings will be for day closings ONLY unless specified otherwise. In the event that evening or weekend classes must be canceled and the decision is not made at the time of the original announcement, a separate announcement will be made by mid-afternoon.

If public transportation is readily accessible from where you live, it is strongly suggested that this option be utilized to get to and from the University during snowy and icy weather. MBTA users may find this link helpful: http://www.mbta.com/winter

Please do not call the Department of Public Safety to ask whether or not the University is open. During snow, storm, and other emergencies the Public Safety Dispatcher is extremely busy, and calls of this nature may impede the handling of serious problems.

Judgments for weather related closings are based upon the best information available from the National Weather Service. Clearly, each member of the community should make his or her own decision about whether to travel to campus based on weather conditions in his/her area.

Hurricanes

Hurricane Watch: hurricane is possible in your area within the next 48 hours. Be prepared to evacuate. Monitor local radio television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.

Hurricane Warning: when a hurricane is expected in your area in the next 36 hours. If local authorities advise you to evacuate, leave immediately.

If a Warning is issued in your area you should:

  • Try to prepare where you live for the storm's impact. Take in all outdoor items, close and secure doors and windows, and create an emergency supply kit.
  • Do not go outside until the entire storm has passed. Listen to official information from authorities about when it is safe to venture outside.
  • After the storm has ended, be aware of downed wires, broken trees and fallen objects.

Earthquakes

If you are in an area and the ground begins to shake you should:

  • If you are inside, you should stand in a doorway or under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a desk.
  • Try to stay away from windows, hanging objects, or anything that looks like it could fall over or off a wall.
  • If you are in a sturdy part of a building, stay where you are until the shaking stops.
  • Do not use an elevator after the shaking stops. Evacuate the building.
  • If you are outside when the shaking begins, move away from any trees, poles and buildings.