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Hurricane Sandy Update: Message from the Provost

To: LIU Post Community
From: Dr. Paul Forestell, Provost, LIU Post
Date: November 2, 2012
Re: Message from Provost Following Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy has impacted many universities throughout the tri-state area, including LIU Post. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported on campus as a result of the storm and our buildings and grounds sustained only minor damage.

The campus lost power late Monday afternoon, October 29, and currently remains without electricity. We are in touch with authorities at the Long Island Power Authority and, at this time, we do not have an estimated date or time for the restoration of power to the campus. The campus is closed through Monday, November 5 and will reopen when full power is restored. As previously scheduled on the academic calendar, classes will not be held on Election Day, Tuesday. November 6. As soon as we have an estimated date of the reopening of the campus, it will be posted on our web site at www.liu.edu/post/stormwatch.

All LIU Post residence halls are open and are currently being powered by our backup generators. The 600 students who remain in our residence halls have fresh food, heat, hot water and charging stations for cell phones. The well being of these students remains our top priority.

At the same time, plans are being made for the resumption of studies as soon as power is restored. Should power disruption continue into later next week, information regarding class schedules and instruction will be communicated to students and posted on the LIU Post website.

It is with great pride and appreciation that I share information about volunteer and community outreach activities being made by faculty, staff and students of LIU Post in the aftermath of the storm.

The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program's Community Trauma Response Team, a volunteer group comprised mainly of students, is providing assistance to Long Island residents suffering from the storm's impact. Thomas Demaria, Ph.D., director of the Psychological Services Center, brought a group of four clinical psychology doctoral students to Long Beach yesterday, one of the hardest hit areas by the hurricane. The Psychological Services Center is LIU Post's public clinic, staffed by clinical psychology doctoral students and licensed practitioners. Last night Dr. Hilary Vidair, co-director of clinical training in the doctoral program, led a group of five students to assist residents during an overnight shift at a shelter at Queens College. Students were expected to deploy to Hempstead today.

Meanwhile, LIU Post staff and faculty who serve as trained volunteers in the Campus-based Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) have assisted at Nassau County's Office of Emergency Management and in shelters for people and pets.

Our thoughts remain with the families who have experienced damage to their homes and businesses, and who have lost loved ones. We are also saddened to learn that the homes of some of our own students, faculty and staff were damaged by flooding and fire and we are reaching out to them to provide assistance.

Like all New Yorkers, we are saddened at the destruction of more than 100,000 homes, the staggering damage to public infrastructure, and the incalculable effects on businesses and the economy.

Your patience and understanding is appreciated during this trying time. I am certain the LIU Post campus community will continue to rise to the challenges that we are currently facing.

For updates, please visit our website at www.liu.edu/post/stormwatch or call the emergency hotline at 516-299-3637.