Weather Emergency Procedure & Plan

Statutory Authority: 1994 Minnesota Statutes, Section 43A.05, Subdivision 4.

The authority to cancel classes and close college or university campuses when weather or other emergency exists resides with the president or the president’s designee. The closure of state agencies by the Commissioner of Minnesota Management & Budget (MMB) does not apply to Minnesota State colleges and universities. MSU Moorhead will follow any declaration of a State of Emergency declared by the Governor.

President’s Designees

President Anne Blackhurst has delegated to the following persons the responsibility for implementing this plan:

  • Jean Hollaar, Vice President for Finance and Administration
    Office Phone: 218.477.2070
    Cell Phone: 218.443.2285
  • Arrick Jackson, Vice President for Academic Affairs
    Office Phone: 218.477.4377
    Cell Phone: 218.790.4909
  • Brenda Amenson-Hill, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
    Office Phone: 218.477.2200
    Cell Phone: 920.328.7342

Winter Storm Emergencies

If travel is possible in the immediate Moorhead/Fargo/West Fargo area, the University will usually try to avoid calling off classes and/or closing the campus. Each individual must take into account their own circumstances for travel to campus and decide accordingly whether or not travel is safe.

Consultation:

Consultation calls are intended to provide information as to what others are planning. The President’s designees have the discretion as to whom on the list to contact.

  • National Weather Service, (Grand Forks)
    Telephone: 701.772.0720
    http://www.weather.gov/fgf/
    w-fgf.webmaster@noaa.gov
  • ND State Climatologist
    Phone: 701.799.3635
    or
    Adnan Akyuz, Ph.D.
    Phone: 701.231.6577
  • Bruce Bollinger, NDSU,VP for Finance and Administration
    Office Phone: 701.231.8411
    Home Phone: 701.793.1588
    Cell Phone: 701.730.8116
    • Second Contact for NDSU
      Gina Haugen, Ass’t to VP
      Office Phone: 701.231.6177
      Cell Phone: 701.371.7912
      Home Phone: 701.371.7912
  • Shawn Anderson, M State, Dean of Student Success
    Office Phone: 218.299.6535
    Cell Phone: 701.238.6878
    • Second Contact for M State
      Angela Mathers
      Office Phone: 218.299.6853
      Cell Phone:701.630.0870
  • Mike Steffen, Moorhead Area Public Schools, Director of Transportation and Safety
    Office Phone: 218.284.1411
    District Cell: 701.219.6263
  • Blake Mikesell, Fargo Public Schools, Director of Maintenance & Operations
    Office Phone: 701.446.1023
    Cell Phone: 563.770.0032
  • Anne Blackhurst, MSUM, President
    Office Phone: 218.477.2243
    Home Phone: 218.287.5203
    Cell Phone: 507.382.2727
  • MN Highway Patrol
    Phone: 218.847.1550
  • MN Department of Transportation (Road Condition Information)
    Phone: 800.542.0220
  • North Dakota Highway Patrol
    Phone: 701.239.8960
  • ND Dept. of Transportation
    Phone: 701.239.8900 OR 701.239.8901
  • ND Agricultural Weather Network
    Phone: 701.630.1076
    or
    Daryl Ritchison
    Phone: 701.231.8209

Communications

When a decision is made, the following notifications will be made:

  • Official listservs (communication templates below)
    • Employee
    • Student
  • Dragon Alert emergency notification system message (communication templates below)
  • The following Television and Radio Stations will also be notified:
    • In-Forum
    • WDAY TV
    • KVLY TV
    • KVRR TV
    • KXJB TV
    • Midwest Communications:
      • KFGO – The Mighty 790 AM
      • KRWK –101.9 Jack FM
      • KMJO – 104.7 Duke FM
      • KVOX – Froggy 99.9 FM
      • KOYY – 93.7 Y94 FM
      • KNFL – 740 The Fan AM
    • Radio FM Media:
      • KBVB – Bob 95.1 FM
      • KQWB – Q105.1 Rocks FM
      • KLTA – Big 98.7 FM
      • KPFX – 107.9 The Fox FM
      • KQWB – Bison 1660 AM
      • KBVB HD2 – The City 94.5 FM
      • KLTA HD2 – 96.9 Hits FM
      • KEGK – Eagle 106.9 FM
      • KDLB - Bob 94.7 FM

Communication Templates:

Delay the start of classes
Due to (expected) winter weather conditions, classes at Minnesota State University Moorhead are delayed on (date) and will begin (time am/pm). All employees should report to work at their usual times. Check www.mnstate.edu for updates.

  • Official listserv message
    • Employee
    • Student
    • Forward to system office
  • Dragon Alert emergency notification system message
  • MSUM home page message (driven by Dragon Alert)

Cancel classes
Due to (expected) winter weather conditions, classes at Minnesota State University Moorhead (v.1) are cancelled today (date) or (v.2) will be cancelled at (date & time). All employees should report to work at their usual times. Check www.mnstate.edu for updates.

  • Official listserv message
    • Employee
    • Student
    • Forward to system office
  • Dragon Alert emergency notification system message
  • MSUM home page message (driven by Dragon Alert)

MSUM will delay opening until 12:00 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, December 30
Due to (expected) winter weather conditions, Minnesota State University Moorhead (or MSUM) will delay opening on Monday, December 30 until 12:00 pm. Only employees identified as essential in Group #1 should report to work for their next normally assigned shift before 12:00 pm. Check www.mnstate.edu for updates.

  • Official listserv message
    • Employee
    • Student
    • Forward to system office
  • Dragon Alert emergency notification system message
  • MSUM home page message (driven by Dragon Alert)

Close the campus to all but essential operations
Due to (expected) winter weather conditions, Minnesota State University Moorhead is closed on (date). No classes will be held and employees identified as essential in Group #1 should report to work for their next normally assigned shift. Check www.mnstate.edu for updates.

  • Official listserv message
    • Employee
    • Student
    • Forward to system office
  • Dragon Alert emergency notification system message
  • MSUM home page message (driven by Dragon Alert)

Essential Staffing Requirements

An essential employee is defined as:

Positions and employees of the University who provide services that are essential to the well-being of students, those service activities available for students living on campus, and those functions deemed essential to personal safety and the protection or preservations of the State’s investments such as property during an emergency.

The kinds of weather related closings that may occur are:

  • Cancellation of Classes: The President or designee may decide to cancel classes. In this case, no employees are excused from work. Each individual must take into account their own circumstances for travel to campus and decide accordingly whether or not travel is safe. Employees must communicate absences from work to their supervisor through their normal call-in procedures and may request leave time to cover any work absences
  • Campus Closure: The President or designee may decide to close the campus. When this happens, all non-essential employees are excused from work with pay without regard to labor contracts. Essential employees are required to report to work for their next normally assigned shift at their regular rate of pay. Every essential employee must take into account their own personal circumstances and decide if it is safe for him/her to travel to work. Any absence from work must be immediately communicated to the supervisor through normal call-in procedures and the employee may request leave time to cover any work absence. Circumstances may change after the campus has been closed due to a weather emergency. A supervisor may determine that the services of essential employees who are on duty at that time are no longer needed and essential employees may be released from work with pay.