 "Photo: Leann Arthur/DA")
Students can continue snowboarding and sled riding around campus as West Virginia University canceled classes today due to inclement weather.
The University is expected to reopen Tuesday at 6 a.m., said WVU’s Assistant Vice President for Communications Becky Lofstead, after another day is given for roadways and sidewalks to be cleared.
If the University closes Tuesday, word would be out late today, she said.
“It’s safe to say University officials have been in touch with MECCA for the most part throughout the last couple of days, just checking on the roadways and weather conditions,” she said. “The conditions are still bad around the area and the decision was made to not open tomorrow for the safety of students and employees.”
Tonight’s WVU vs. Villanova University men’s basketball game will start at 7 p.m. as scheduled.
The PRT and Student Recreation Center will open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Mountainlair will be in operation from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Downtown Library Complex and Evansdale Library will open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Housing operations will work on usual weekend service levels (Only emergency maintenance and light custodial services will be offered).
The usual weekend dining halls will be open following weekend hours. The dining areas open for meal plan use are Summit Cafe, Boreman Bistro and Cafe Evansdale.
Quiznos and Burger King may be used by those with meal plans for breakfast and dinner combo meals as usual. Hatfields in the Mountainlair will be open for regular hours.
A wrestling match between WVU and the University of Pittsburgh was rescheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Coliseum.
The area was hit with as much as 20 inches of snow within the last 72 hours, according to the National Weather Service. The University canceled classes Friday after 1 p.m. and closed at 3 p.m.
More than 7,000 people were without electricity in Monongalia County as of press time, said David Neurohr, a spokesman for Allegheny Power.
“I expect the vast majority of customers to have power back during the night tonight or during the day tomorrow,” he said, adding customers in remote areas may have to wait longer.
“We have opened up shelters for those without heat to sleep,” said Mike Wolfe, deputy director of the Office of Emergency Management and MECCA 911. “Shelters have food and water.”
The number of calls made to MECCA 911 more than quadrupled this weekend.
“Since Friday, we have taken 2,216 emergency calls and 3,116 non-emergency calls,” Wolfe said. “On average, we see about 200 to 300 emergency calls per weekend.”
This is the first time the University has closed all day in recent memory, Lofstead said, excluding the half day closings, including once last year.
University Police Chief Bob Roberts said there was not an increase in accidents on campus, but there was an increase off campus. He added those out should dress for the weather and wear appropriate foot wear.
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency Friday from the snow storm.
More than 99,000 people lost power in West Virginia during the storm, Neurohr said.
Manchin ordered the implementation of the state’s Emergency Operations Plan and activation of the state’s Emergency Operations Center.
The state of emergency remains in effect for 30 days unless extended or rescinded by another proclamation by the governor.
“People should not drive unless it is absolutely necessary during a state of emergency,” said Sara Payne Scarbro, press secretary for the governor.
melanie.hoffman@mail.wvu.edu
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