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Latest information on Hurricane Milton

The University of Miami is closely monitoring Hurricane Milton and providing information as needed.

The University community is urged to monitor Emergency Management social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram for updates.

Thursday, Oct. 10
5 p.m.

Recovery resources for the University community

The following information and resources are being provided to support members of the University community impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Financial assistance for employees

  • Advance Pay
    • An “Advance Paycheck” option is available through UM Payroll for employees needing financial assistance. Employees will be able to request advance pay, up to 50 percent of pay, to be repaid via payroll deduction, using the Payroll Advance Request Form.
    • HR Partners will have access to the form to be able to share with employees, as needed.
  • Emergency Financial Relief
    • University Credit Union will provide $5,000 hurricane loans for up to 60 months at 15.99% interest, with no credit check, direct deposit, and verification of employment.

Recovery resources for employees, students, and families coordinated by the State of Florida

  • FEMA Individual Assistance
    • Individual Assistance is available to individuals and households needing financial and direct services who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. Impacted individuals with insurance are encouraged to apply.
  • Disaster Legal Hotline is open to assist and refer callers. Call 833-514-2940.
  • Samaritan's Purse hotline: 1-833-747-1234
    • Free Assistance for homeowners affected by the disaster.
    • Volunteers may be able to assist with removal of personal property and furniture, flood cleanup, sanitizing with shockwave treatment, chainsaw work and debris cleanup, and temporary roof tarping.
  • 2-1-1 is open and ready to receive calls
    • Individuals can call for up-to-the-minute information including school closures and sandbag distributions.
    • Local Social Services Referral.
  • Red Cross Hotline is open to assist survivors: 1-800-RED-CROS (733-2767)
    • This includes financial, sheltering, reunification, and transitional support.
  • Florida Baptists Disaster Relief Public Assistance: Call 904-253-0502 or text Helene to 27123
    • Free Assistance for homeowners affected by the disaster.
    • Volunteers may be able to assist with storm debris cleanup, temporary roof tarping, chainsaw work, and muck outs
  • Crisis Cleanup: Call 844-965-1386. Assistance is always free and may include:
    • Debris removal
    • Tree removal
    • Muck and Gut flooded home
    • Mold remediation and more cleanup assistance
  • State Assistance Information Line: Call 1-800-342-3557 
    • The call center is operational 24/7 and can answer any Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene related questions in English, Spanish, and Creole. 
  • Hope Disaster Assistance Form
    • Serving as the emergency response arm for the Hope Florida initiative, Activate Hope pulls together the private sector, nonprofits, and government resources to help Floridians get back on their feet following a natural disaster. Activate Hope helps connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs, and more.
  • Points of Distribution (POD) and Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC)
    • POD sites have food, water, tarps, and more resources available for residents in need. MARCs have representation from multiple state agencies providing information and unique resources.

County-specific information

Temporary lodging

  • VISIT FLORIDA Emergency Accommodation Modules on Expedia and Priceline are available to provide real-time hotel availability and lodging resources for impacted Floridians and visitors.
  • Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated its Florida Resident Distress Rates for those in the 51 counties declared as under a state of emergency by Governor Ron DeSantis.
  • Scenic Stays Vacation Rentals in Northwest Florida has a 35 percent discount with promotion code MILTON. Visit myscenicstays.com or call 850-407-2244 to book.
  • Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has extended special offers for evacuees and first responders in need of accommodations in the event of an evacuation. Use the code EVACUEES for stays through Oct. 31. Book by Oct. 29

Thursday, Oct. 10
3:30 p.m.

Update for Medical Campus and UHealth 

Hurricane Milton has mostly moved out of our area, and we are actively working to resume normal operations. Our teams have assessed conditions and, thankfully, our facilities sustained little to no damage. Teams are working to resume operations at locations that had temporarily closed due to the storm.

Below is the latest information for our clinical and medical education operations.

  • The following locations are closed through Thursday, but will be fully operational on Friday, Oct. 11:
    • Naples: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Naples and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Naples.
    • Aventura: Sylvester Aventura.
    • Boca Raton: UHealth Boca Raton and Neurology Clinic.
    • Palm Beach County: UHealth Palm Beach Gardens, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Palm Beach Gardens, UHealth Downtown West Palm Beach, and UHealth Concierge Medicine Palm Beach.
  • UHealth Clinic at Walgreens in Boca Raton reopened Thursday at 9 a.m.
  • Miller School of Medicine for today (Thursday):
    • Phase 1 medical students and graduate students are remote. 
    • Phase 2 and 3 students are excused from in-person clinical duties. Clinical duties will return to normal Friday, Oct. 11.
    • All students should review the detailed message on Teams.

Parking: The Dominion Garage has returned to normal operations.

Your safety and well-being remain our priority, and we’re grateful for your continued cooperation. Thank you for your patience and resilience as we navigated the challenges brought by Hurricane Milton. Your commitment to the safety of our patients, our community, and each other has been extraordinary, and we deeply appreciate the teamwork shown as we managed through the storm’s impacts.

Thursday, Oct. 10
2:15 p.m.

UPDATE 

As Hurricane Milton now moves toward the northeast off the Atlantic coast of Florida, South Florida is no longer under a tropical storm warning. Wind gusts have subsided, and breezy conditions are expected through much of the day, according to the National Weather Service.

The Coral Gables and Marine campuses will resume normal operations on Friday, Oct. 11, including class instruction.

  • Given that classes were conducted remotely on Wednesday and Thursday and with the start of Fall Break on Saturday, faculty members have been advised to extend flexibility for Oct. 11. Students who may have been impacted by the storm should contact their faculty to discuss academic continuity plans.

Medical Campus and UHealth

  • Operations on the Medical Campus and UHealth generally continued on normal schedules during the storm.
  • Additional updates on UHealth will be shared later today. 

As communities across Florida begin to assess impacts from the storm, it is difficult to know how many members of the University community have been impacted. There are resources available to students and faculty and staff members now, including the University Counseling Center, Student Health Service, and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program. Faculty and staff members who have been impacted should contact their supervisor* for support and awareness.

Additional details related to recovery and relief efforts will be shared as they become available.

Follow Emergency Management social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram for any additional updates.

*Supervisors can connect with their HR representative for support, as needed, or dial directly to: Gables/Marine HR (305) 284-3798 or Medical/UHealth HR (305) 243-6482.

Wednesday, Oct. 9
3:30 p.m.

Update for Medical Campus and UHealth 

We are continuing to monitor Category 4 Hurricane Milton, which has maximum sustained winds near 130 mph with higher gusts as of the 2 p.m. advisory. While specific impact to our area is uncertain, we can plan on rainfall of up to six inches, tropical storm force wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes when the hurricane’s outer bands are closest to our area today through Thursday.

Your safety and the well-being of our patients remain our top priorities. We will continue to closely monitor the storm as the situation evolves.

Given the current forecast, this is the latest information for our clinical and medical education operations today, Wednesday, Oct. 9, and continuing through Friday, Oct. 11: 

  • UHealth clinical operations will continue normal schedules, except for: 
    • Naples: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Naples, and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Naples, which will be closed through Thursday.
    • Aventura: Sylvester Aventura, which is closed today through Thursday.
    • Boca Raton: UHealth Boca Raton and Neurology Clinic will be closed Thursday. UHealth Clinic at Walgreens in Boca will close today at 6 p.m. and remain closed tomorrow. The plan is to reopen Friday at 8:30 a.m. as scheduled, impact permitting. Walgreens virtual options are available 8:30 a.m.–8 p.m. and UHealth NOW remains available 24/7. 
    • Palm Beach County: UHealth Palm Beach Gardens, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Palm Beach Gardens, UHealth Downtown West Palm Beach, and UHealth Concierge Medicine Palm Beach will be closed Thursday.
  • All other clinical, patient-facing staff should report to work at their designated work location as scheduled (not to include staff at the locations listed above).
  • Non-clinical, non-patient-facing staff should follow the direction of their supervisor regarding whether they should report to the medical campus or work remotely today and Thursday.*
  • Miller School of Medicine for today and Thursday:
    • Phase 1 medical students and graduate students will be remote.
    • Phase 2-3 medical students should report for clinical duties as assigned. Those assigned to clinics that will be closed should check with their faculty about alternate arrangements.
  • Employees who are unsure should contact their direct supervisor.

Parking: As a reminder, campus garages are not to be used for vehicle storage or charging electric vehicles, which may be disconnected if generators are activated. The Dominion Garage will close for entry at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 (exiting will still be allowed) and remain closed until Friday at 8 a.m. All employees may park in the 15th Street Parking Garage. Public Safety will be at the gate to allow entry and exit. Shuttles services from the 15th Street Parking Garage to the UHealth Tower will be available from 4:00 a.m. to midnight on Thursday. Please exercise caution in the coming days and allow for extra travel time to and from campus. Anticipate possible delays for both patients and employees and be prepared for late arrivals. Stay mindful of the changing weather conditions and prioritize safety at all times.

*In determining the appropriateness of remote work, supervisors may be flexible, considering the nature of the work, whether it can be done effectively in a remote fashion, and whether the work is patient-facing. Supervisors can connect with their HR representative for support, as needed, or by calling UHealth/MSOM HR (305) 243-6482.

Wednesday, Oct. 9
2 p.m.

UPDATE

As of the 11 a.m. National Hurricane Center advisory, Hurricane Milton has maximum winds of 145 mph and is currently located approximately 200 miles west-northwest of Miami-Dade County. The University is working in close coordination with the local National Weather Service office. Winds of 25–35 mph, with gusts of 40–50 mph, are possible later Wednesday through mid-day Thursday. Additionally, 1 to 3 inches of rainfall and several tornadoes are possible. 

Please exercise caution and give yourself extra time if going to and from campus. 

Access Weatherstem stations for a real-time view of weather conditions on all three University campuses:

Previously announced changes to campus operations remain in effect throughout Thursday, Oct. 10.

Below are updates regarding parking and transportation and campus dining and retail operations.

  • Campus transportation for the Coral Gables and Marine campuses has been modified through the end of day Thursday, Oct. 10.
    • Hurry ’Cane Shuttle
      • Coral Gables Campus shuttles are running limited service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
      • Rosenstiel Shuttle is suspended through Thursday, Oct. 10.
    • Freebee (formerly Safe Ride)
      • Wednesday, Oct. 9: Service suspended
      • Thursday, Oct. 10: Full service from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.
    • Parking restrictions are lifted through Tuesday, Oct. 15 to accommodate valid permit holders who will be traveling through Fall Break.
  • Schedule adjustments to dining halls and retail locations have been updated on UM Dining.
    • Late Night Dining will be paused for the remainder of the week.
    • The Campus Store on the Coral Gables Campus is closed through Thursday, Oct. 10. 

Reminder: Stay vigilant against phishing scams during storm emergencies 

Additional interim updates continue to be posted on Emergency Management social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

Monday, Oct. 7
4 p.m.

ADVISORY 1

The University of Miami continues to closely monitor Hurricane Milton, which has maximum winds of 175 mph and is currently located approximately 750 miles west-southwest of Miami-Dade County. While exact impacts to our area are still uncertain, rainfall amounts ranging from 2 to 4 inches, tropical storm force wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes are possible when outer bands move through the area late Tuesday through Thursday.

Your safety is a top priority. Please review the following information regarding classes, events, and campus operations starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and continuing throughout Thursday, Oct. 10:

Coral Gables and Marine campuses:

  • All classes on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses will move to remote format. Faculty will convey to students how to access the course remotely, or any alternative academic continuity plans.
  • Staff should follow the direction of their supervisor regarding whether they should report to campus or work remotely on Wednesday and Thursday.*
  • All in-person meetings and campus events (both indoor and outdoor) during this time are canceled.
  • Dining halls and retail locations will remain open. Additional information on schedule adjustments will be posted later today on the UM Dining website.
  • The following locations will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and reopen Friday, Oct. 11 on normal schedules:
    • Libraries on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses
    • Herbert Wellness Center on the Coral Gables Campus
    • Student Center Complex on the Coral Gables Campus
  • All other campus services will continue on regular schedules unless otherwise communicated.

Medical Campus and UHealth:  

  • UHealth clinical operations will continue on normal schedules, except for Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Naples and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Naples, which will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • Clinical, patient-facing staff should report to work at the designated work location as scheduled (not to include staff at the Naples locations listed above). 
  • Non-clinical, non-patient-facing staff should follow the direction of their supervisor regarding whether they should report to the medical campus or work remotely on Wednesday and Thursday.*
  • Miller School of Medicine:
    • Graduate students and Phase 1 medical students will be remote during this period.
    • Phase 2-3 medical students will continue regular schedules and await further direction from medical school administration.

Please give yourself extra time if going to and from campus, and exercise caution in the coming days.

The University community is urged to monitor UMiami Emergency Management social media accounts www.facebook.com/UMiamiENN and www.x.com/UMiamiENN for interim updates.

*In determining the appropriateness of remote work, supervisors may be flexible, considering the nature of the work, whether it can be done effectively in a remote fashion, and whether the work is customer-facing. Supervisors can connect with their HR representative for support, as needed, or dial directly to:  Gables/Marine HR (305) 284-3798 or UHealth/MSOM HR (305) 243-6482.

General Emergency Preparedness Information

Students and faculty and staff members are encouraged to review the general emergency preparedness steps below:

  • Emergency Alerts
    • Verify your personal and emergency contact information is up to date in CaneLink or Workday.
    • Continue to monitor official communications issued by the University. When a situation warrants, the University will issue emergency information via mass text and voice messages and emails.
  • Ensure you have an emergency kit with essential supplies you will need for a minimum of 72 hours after a disaster.
  • Supervisors and unit emergency planners should confirm their unit’s continuity plan is up-to-date in the UReady Continuity Planning System.
  • Back up all computer files using one of the University’s cloud-based data storage solutions:
  • Install and ensure you are able to successfully login to the Duo Mobile application for iPhone or Android at least once before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Note, this application will work even without cellular service. 
  • Each unit’s Human Resources partner can use the “UM Emergency Contact Information” report in Workday to provide management with the latest contact information for all employees in the unit. Printed copies of this report should be maintained by managers and a copy uploaded into UReady.
  • Additional information on hurricane preparedness can be found on the Hurricane Preparedness
  • Real Time Weather Resources
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