In the wake of a massive regional ice storm that brought freezing rain to North Carolina last night through today, the university canceled Fellows Weekend event Friday, as well as all other campus events. Elon is preparing for the worst: a power outage that may last more than 24 hours.
If the outages continue, the university will consider evacuating students out of residence halls without power tonight, according to Dan Anderson, vice president for university communications.
Power is either out or flickering in many living locations around campus today, including Danieley Center, the Oaks Area, Colonnades and the Station at Mill Point, though most academic buildings are reporting power as of publication.
"All of the areas of campus without power right now are a big concern, especially with the weather and the temperature," Anderson said. "Since we don't know how long the power will be out, we have to make preparations for 24 hours or longer."
Though the university has been in contact with Duke Energy, Anderson said, the power company has been unable to definitively say when power will be restored, due in large part to the extent of the outages regionally.
The state said 343,000 people are without power. Duke Energy's outage map shows more than 250,000 of its customers without power as of publication.
The ice has inflicted substantial damages on the university. A tree fell on Belk Pavilion, cleaving the roof clean through. Downed trees have also been reported in other areas of campus today, including the Loy Center, the Oaks area and the Station at Mill Point.
Anderson said there are no estimates yet as to damage, but Elon University is covered under an insurance policy for most damages. Smith Jackson, vice president for student life, urged students in an email to stay indoors. Downed power lines and the ice both pose dangers to walkers, he said.