Federal, State Emergency Management Officials Assess FAMU Clean-Up and Recovery Efforts

May 16, 2024
Andrew Skerritt
Storm Recovery on Campus
Federal, State Emergency Management Officials Assess FAMU Clean-Up and Recovery Efforts

Federal and state emergency management and Florida A&M University officials toured the Tallahassee campus Wednesday to assess the damage and clean-up effort.

The delegation visited the approved debris site south of Phase III apartment residents,  the Grand Ballroom, and Benjamin Banneker building. President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald Palm, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration W. Rebecca Brown, and Emergency Management Director Ashley Davis,  were among those who participated in the assessment tour.

A tornado and high winds damaged roofs, downed trees and utility poles, blocked roadways and knocked out power at the FAMU campus. FAMU officials are tracking clean-up and recovery expenses with the hope of reimbursement if there is a federal disaster declaration.

Robinson discusses recovery efforts standing with (from left) Senior VP Finance and Administration W. Rebecca Brown, Associate Vice President Facilities, Planning, Construction, and Safety Kendall Jones, Emergency Management Director Ashley Davis, Interim Police Chief Sgt. John Cotton and Emergency Management Deputy Director Ivy Baker
Robinson discusses recovery efforts standing with (from left) Senior VP Finance and Administration W. Rebecca Brown, Associate Vice President Facilities, Planning, Construction, and Safety Kendall Jones, Emergency Management Director Ashley Davis, Interim Police Chief Sgt. John Cotton and Emergency Management Deputy Director Ivy Baker

President Robinson expressed admiration for what has been accomplished over the past several days.

“What you see today compared  to what we saw Friday morning is just incredible. It’s a testament to the work that these people around me and those who have worked with them have done,” he said.

Kendall Jones, associate vice president for Facilities, Planning, Construction, and Safety, who has been overseeing the clean-up, assessment and repairs, is optimistic about the pace of the recovery.

“Certainly by the end of the weekend, we’ll be in a good position to recommend when we can re-open and allow people to return to campus,” Jones said.

Faculty and non-essential staff are being asked to work remotely until instructed to return to the office. Other Professional Service (OPS) employees are permitted to work at the authorization of their supervisor. As the clean-up and repairs continue, Department of Environment, Health and Safety Director Victor DeLaire is cautioning faculty researchers against entering their labs until they receive the all-clear.

The Educational Research Center for Child Development’s (ERCCD) remains closed for the remainder of the week. FAMU Developmental Research School (DRS) has re-opened.

Summer A and C classes will be conducted via remote through May 17, while the campus cleanup is underway.  Students are advised to contact their course instructors for more details. The add-drop period has been extended to Monday, May 20.

FAMU’s Baseball team is scheduled to host Mississippi Valley State University Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the final regular season series. The ground will be open to spectators.   

FAMU Police Department is providing security for the American Red Cross Shelter at the Lawson Multipurpose Center. Interim Police Chief Sgt. John Cotton is asking those on campus to lock their vehicles to deter theft.