<p>Just a few more days. D still has lots to pack even though we will buy most of the dorm stuff in New Orleans. We arrive late Thursday and will do the shopping on Friday.
Are your kids nervous?</p>
<p>Nervous about hurricanes sending everyone home again for a few days?? It happens regularly.</p>
<p>What do most students do during a hurricane? We definitely have had no experience with hurricanes.</p>
<p>Tulane University Tropical Storm Information Center</p>
<p>Welcome to Tulane's Tropical Storm Information Center. Tulane has prepared these resources for your information and education. Due to Tulane's distinctive location at the mouth of the Mississippi River and on the rim of the Gulf of Mexico, in any given year the university can find itself under the threat of tropical storm activity.</p>
<p>Whether you are a student who has never faced the threat of a hurricane, a seasoned faculty or staff member who has ridden through many a storm, or a family member whose student is thousands of miles away from home, please familiarize yourself with these resources.</p>
<p>Please plan appropriately to ensure that you and your family are prepared to meet the unique challenges each tropical storm season can bring.</p>
<pre><code>* Evacuation guidelines
* Preparing for the storm
* During the storm
* Returning to New Orleans
* What is a tropical storm?
</code></pre>
<p>I am presuming your daughter has no car and she will need to be able to or you will need to be making her airline evacuation prior to airports closing....you need to keep up on the weather news as the season is just winding up to the maximum. Good luck. I am sure they must have given out some information regarding this to new families.</p>
<p>Of course they have. And it's not that big a deal. I grew up on the southeast coast of Florida, and we dealt with hurricanes regularly. There's plenty of time in the rare event that an evacuation has to happen, and I'm sure the kids will help each other. Ours won't have a car, and if he doesn't hook up with someone who does, we know someone in town who will help him out (in which case, he'll be on the lookout for others to help out!). No need to be alarmist. </p>
<p>Why stir the pot, hazmat? I don't think this thread was meant to be about fears about hurricanes at all.</p>
<p>I didn't use the word fear nor did the info from Tulane imply fear. I think many students are pleased for the break and if it presents itself they plan to have fun. I am not trying to engender fear. Geez....I have lived through numerous hurricanes.</p>
<p>I see...poor word choice on my part...I'm just thinking of all those mothers whose only experience of hurricanes is the devastation they've seen on the news. It's probably not the first thing they need to hear about when their hearts' loves are about to go away from them! It just really isn't usually that scary.</p>
<p>My philosophy is to plan the trip now and hope for the opportunity to go!!! New Orleans offers so many opportunities and this trip away is just one more. Did some say golf in Phoenix? How about golf in Las Vegas....I am thinking too hard here.</p>
<p>Well, we are not in a tizzy about hurricanes. Figuret there's a chance S will make friends with someone(s) who can drive some place inland if necessary. In case not, we've identified cities which are one airline hop away, including DC where we have friends and relatives.</p>
<p>When we were there in April, spoke to several students who had hotfooted it to some college in Mississippi where they let Tulane kids bed down - in dorms? gym? Whatever, the kids seem to have seen it, as hazmat says, as kind of a break and a lark.</p>
<p>I'm glad. We've arranged with friends for our son to be with them if necessary--they're in Slidell. Of course, I'm sure he'll find alternatives. He'd probably rather gargle dirt than stay with his parents' friends in the event!</p>
<p>And Hazmat, I'm sorry I overreacted to your initial post about hurricanes. I guess I'm not responsible for my emotional overreactions this month! You should see me around the house every time a piece of mail comes from the school. Not a pretty sight.</p>
<p>I hear 'ya. You sound like my mom..really missing the fun of having me home. Anyway you just never know whether new folks are even aware of the storm trackers.....i thought of you this morning for there is a tropical right now heading for SoFLA. I love the gargle dirt comment....it made me laugh. I'd say just look at any storm as a college diversion and you can bet the kids will find a way to make it fun!! I hope you have a good first year.</p>
<p>I didn't mean nervous about hurricanes. And Tulane did send out info to plan in the event of one. I am not worried. She also has grandparents of a friend who are planning on taking her under their wing.
She is more nervous about leaving behind all that is familar and moving across the country where she knows no one. But she is also excited to begin a new phase of life.</p>
<p>Car is packed. To airport tomorrow morning. In New Orleans by midafternoon. BB&B and Staples on Friday. See you all on Saturday!</p>
<p>S is out with friends for his "last night." Wow.</p>
<p>Just cried and cried and cried with boyfriend. Leaving in two hours.</p>
<p>I live about half an hour away, so won't be leaving until the last minute. Same goes for packing. =p It's still an exciting and slightly nervewracking time though.</p>
<p>And about the hurricanes, as stated before they are not that big of a deal. There is always advance warning and Tulane shuts down very quickly in the event of one-- in my experience, while residents in the area are still going about their daily business. I've definitely been guilty of taking a hurricane as a welcome break from schoolwork.</p>
<p>fwiw:</p>
<p>we visited last year the first day back after an evacuation. The crews did a great job clearing debris (mostly fallen branches) from the sidewalks and roads. If I recall, the Dean said that only 135 kids ended up "homeless" and bussed up to Mississipi (state?). Other kids either went home, or went to a home with local friends.</p>
<p>One thing noticeable as students were returning: it was the typical grumble -- "oh, too, bad, class tomorrow." Other than that, it was just like returning from a long weekend. LOL</p>
<p>Good luck to all new students and their parents as they head for Tulane. </p>
<p>Regarding the hurricane last year, there was plenty of advance notice for students to be able to make arrangements. The college ran shuttles to the airport. For those that had no place to go, Tulane arranged for them to stay at Mississippi State and brought them there via buses. There were pics posted on the website afterward of the students bunking down in the gym. It looked kind of fun. The worst part was the massive traffic jam from everyone trying to leave the city at once. Better to leave sooner than later and avoid the logjam.</p>
<p>I can't believe it -- my youngest is off to NO! Her dad and brothers are driving her and she is VERY excited.</p>
<p>Not us! Our son wants to go out with his friends for one last Contra Dance, so we won't get to leave until 5 or 6 tomorrow morning for the 11 and 1/2 hour drive!</p>