Power has been restored to all East Campus buildings and all classes will resume as scheduled including classes in the Science & Engineering Lab East, Science & Engineering Lab West, Science & Engineering South and Engineering Research Facility. These four buildings will reopen Wed., April 17 at 7 am. For more info visit emergency.uic.edu

All classes on the East Campus will take place today with the exception of those held in Science & Engineering Lab East, Science & Engineering Lab West, Science & Engineering South, and the Engineering Research Facility. These four buildings will remain closed for the rest of the day. More information as available at emergency.uic.edu.

The following buildings are closed and classes in them are canceled today: Science & Engineering Lab East, Science & Engineering Lab West, Science & Engineering South, and Engineering Research Facility due to an ongoing power outage. Updates will follow. More info at emergency.uic.edu. If you are on campus, follow instructions from university officials. If you are not on campus, stay away. More information as available at emergency.uic.edu.

The tornado watch for 3/14/19 has been cancelled. An ALL CLEAR has been declared for the campus; return to normal operations.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch now until 5:00pm, Thursday, March 14th. Additionally, a Wind Advisory is currently in effect until 10:00pm Thursday, March 14th. The affected area includes northeastern Illinois, Cook County and the City of Chicago.

Tornado Watch means conditions are possible for tornadic activity.

Wind Advisory means that sustained winds of 30 mph and/or wind gusts of 45 mph are expected.

Wind gusts of up to 50 to 55 mph are expected. Difficult travel, especially for high profile vehicles on north to south roads. Unsecured objects outdoors blown around. Minor tree damage and sporadic power outages possible.

A tornado is a violently swirling column of air, a “funnel cloud” that stretches from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Winds in excess of 200 MPH can crush sturdy structures, uproot trees, flip heavy objects like cars or utility poles, and create deadly flying debris.

When the National Weather Service issues an official tornado warning, the City of Chicago will activate the outdoor warning system and broadcast an alert across the University campus. If you hear it or otherwise know a tornado warning is in effect, immediately take shelter.

If you hear about an o­fficial warning:

• ­Remain calm: There is no guaranteed safe place during a tornado, but you will minimize your exposure by finding shelter in the best possible location.
• ­DO NOT wait until you see the tornado: Resist the temptation to go outside and check conditions for yourself. If you know of others in the building and severe weather warnings are issued, spread the word.
• ­Areas to seek: The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or predesignated Storm Refuge Area. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative. Crouch near the floor or under heavy, well-supported objects and cover your head.

• If caught outdoors, drive to the closest shelter, take cover in a stationary vehicle, or lay in a depression and cover your head.

• ­Areas to avoid: Stay clear of windows, corridors with windows, or large free-standing expanses such as lecture halls or cafeterias. DO NOT use elevators during a tornado warning.
• ­Help others: Be mindful of class or workmates, family, or friends who may be hearing impaired or those who may not hear tornado warnings.
• NEVER pull a ­fire alarm unless there is a fire. Otherwise, people may flee a relatively safe building and expose themselves to blowing debris.

UIC ALERT: Classes are canceled and all non-essential service units will remain closed all day Thursday, Jan. 31, at UIC in Chicago. This is due to the ongoing cold temperatures and wind chill and the potential danger for students, faculty and staff commuting to campus.  The university will return to normal operations Friday, Feb. 1.

The university previously announced that classes would be canceled from 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, through noon, Thursday, Jan. 31. This message extends that closure until Friday morning, Feb. 1.

University employees working in non-essential operations should not come to campus on Wednesday or Thursday before noon. Employees working in essential function areas such as maintaining public safety, patient care and hospital operations, supporting residential life, operations in designated research facilities, and providing necessary university support services for those essential functions will be expected to work. Employees should consult with their supervisors about questions specific to their roles and assignments. Employees who do not report to work must use personal time off or take an excused, unpaid absence.

The residential, health care and research aspects of UIC operations make it impossible to close the entire campus.

• The University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics along with the Mile Square Health Center locations will continue to operate normally. A separate communication related to detailed operations will be sent to the health care delivery staff and faculty.
• UIC Residential Dining will be open “weekend hours” (brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner 5 to 8 p.m.) at all three dining locations to serve residential students.
• Student Center East and Student Center West will be open normal hours tonight and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Children’s Center will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.
• The Recreation Centers will be open until 11 p.m. Tuesday and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.
• ACCC/IT Services staff will be available to address emergencies reported to the ACCC Operations Center at (312) 413-8080. Non-emergency issues will be addressed when the campus resumes normal operations.
• Essential safety personnel, including university police, will provide key services and will be fully operational.
• Facility emergencies and building access requests should be reported to Facilities Customer Support at (312) 996-7511, 24/7.
• The Intercampus Route bus will operate on a regular schedule tomorrow. The Semester Express and Library Shuttle will resume regular service on Thursday, Jan 31. For specific information on routes and times, consult the TransLoc route service on your mobile device.
• Night Ride and Paratransit service will continue normal hours of operation.
• UIC Parking offers motorist assistance by calling (312) 355-0555.
• Scheduled events on campus from Tuesday evening through Thursday may be affected. Please check with organizers for specific details.
• UIC Libraries in Chicago will be open until 6 p.m. Tuesday; closed Wednesday; and open Thursday beginning at noon.

The National Weather Service is predicting dangerously cold wind chills which may continue through Thursday. University leaders will continue to monitor the situation closely and will decide about Thursday classes and non-essential service units by 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Updates will be provided to the campus as needed via e-mail; UIC ALERT text messaging to subscribed mobile phones; the UIC.edu website and shared on the UIC Facebook and Twitter accounts.