Monitoring Hurricane Helene

Due to ongoing, rolling power outages without a solid timeline of resolution, CSU will move to remote work for both faculty and staff. Students will continue with e-learning all day. Only essential personnel will remain on campus to serve our students today. Please stay tuned for additional updates regarding the return to normal campus operations.

Last updated: Sept. 27 at 9:35 a.m.

Charleston Southern University will move to e-learning today. Offices and buildings will be closed until 10 a.m. Normal campus operations will continue at that time. Employees, please coordinate with your supervisor should the impacts of the storm or lack of childcare require remote work. Please heed local weather alerts this morning as tornado watches and warnings continue in our area. Stay safe, Bucs!

Last updated: Sept. 27 at 5:30 a.m.

The Charleston Southern University Emergency Management Team continues to monitor Hurricane Helene. According to the National Weather Service, the storm is now a Category 3 with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph. It is expected to strengthen as it makes landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area this evening. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the South Carolina Lowcountry, and the Charleston area is under a tornado watch until 9 p.m.  

However, our most recent updates from local weather experts and utility partners state there will be minimal impact on our region. The strongest part of the storm should hit around 4 a.m. on Friday with possible sustained winds reaching 27 mph. No significant wind damage should occur. Total expected rainfall over the next several days is 1.5 inches. 

As of now, CSU will remain on its current operating schedule. The Rivers Library will close early at 10 p.m. and reopen as normal tomorrow morning. Please stay tuned for any potential updates.  

Employees impacted by the storm and/or with children in area school districts on an e-learning day tomorrow, please speak to your supervisors about your plans. 

As always, important updates will be sent via campuswide email, with urgent releases also communicated via BucAlert, the website, and social media as necessary. Please familiarize yourself with CSU’s emergency procedures in MyCSU as well as personal emergency planning with the latest Hurricane Guide here. 

Stay safe, Bucs! 

Last Updated: Sept. 26 at 5:40 p.m.

The Charleston Southern University Emergency Management Team is monitoring Hurricane Helene as it moves northwest in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the National Weather Service, the storm is forecasted to be a Category 3 hurricane as it makes landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida on Thursday evening. Though the South Carolina Lowcountry remains outside of the probable path of the storm center, tropical storm warnings are in effect. This means the Charleston area can expect bands of heavy rainfall (2-4″ for some areas), wind gusts, and the possibility of isolated tornadoes. 

As of now, CSU will remain on its current operating schedule. If the storm intensifies and changes its path, we will alert the campus of any changes. 

As always, important updates will be sent via campuswide email, with urgent releases also communicated via BucAlert, the website, and social media as necessary. 

Stay safe, Bucs! 

Last updated: Sept. 25 at 5:22 p.m.

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