University poised despite weather

With Hurricane Sandy now gone, the recovery process has begun. The University and its surroundings, however, have emerged relatively unscathed. This is largely due to the people who worked through the storm to insure Hopkins was prepared

This page would like to thank and congratulate them for their efforts. The dining staff for keeping the kitchens running and serving lines moving. The security team for not only doing its job in some very difficult conditions but going above and beyond when responding to maintenance requests and stopping leaks themselves. The Housing office for going so far as to make preparations for students who may need to evacuate from off-campus housing. The IT staff for keeping the Internet up and running. Electricians for keeping power available. Grounds crew members for making it possible to safely move around campus

We are equally grateful to all of the maintenance staff in the various off-campus housing residences. Many worked alone, covering multiple locations with no time to rest and no one to provide relief to keep their residents safe.

When storms like Hurricane Sandy approach, the most common reaction is to stock up and stay at home with family. For the various support staff to not only not give in to that instinct but to also do an exemplary job during the storm was something that took a tremendous amount of sacrifice and dedication. The University and its students are fortunate to have people like this around. The things they do throughout the year are worthy of our thanks but the things they have done over the past few days and will continue to do throughout the recovery process are ever the more laudable.

In addition, this page commends school administrators for keeping students continuously informed during the storm. Dean Susan Boswell, Vice Provost Sarah Steinberg, Senior Vice President Daniel Ennis and Provost Jonathan Bagger sent out countless emails before, during and after the storm which filled students in on everything from University emergency preparations to storm projections. These emails went a long way in assuaging the fears of students and worried parents. We are thankful to the University for handling this situation with such poise and expertise.