Hurricane Plan Letter from Dr. Cowgill

As the start of hurricane season approaches this year, we want to let you know of the plans and procedures that have been put into place to keep you informed in case of a storm or other emergency.

After Hurricane Wilma last year, we formed a Hurricane/ Emergency Committee that carefully analyzed what worked in the past and what we could do better. Although it is important to recognize that every storm and every emergency is different, the committee recommended that our first priorities must be safety, security, and communication with all members of the Pine Crest family. In order to do this, we have created a Hurricane/Emergency Plan that helps all departments prepare and recover from storms and other emergencies.

In case of a hurricane warning or other emergency, the Fort Lauderdale campus of Pine Crest School will follow the planning guidelines below:

1. Decisions to close Pine Crest School will follow the Broward County Schools.
2. Decisions and details will be communicated using the AlertNow telephone system. Please be sure you have given us your updated phone numbers. If you would like to change a number or add a cell phone number, please call the Reception Office at 954-492-4100.
3. Information about closings, status, and reopening of school will also be posted on the new Pine Crest Information Hotline. Please call 954-351-9370 to hear messages and news.
4. Information will also be posted on the Pine Crest website at www.pinecrest.edu. Our website is hosted out of state, so if you have power and access to the Internet, you will be able to see hurricane news items posted on the upper-right corner of the home page.
5. In addition, information will be sent to the media (television, radio, newspapers) and the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
6. A generator will be installed on campus. If there is a power failure, the generator will go on after the storm or emergency has passed, and it will be used to power the telephone, email, and Blackboard systems.
7. To help protect our computer data, many of our systems are now either located out of state (website, grade management, and college counseling programs) or backed up at out-of-state or off-campus locations (administrative, development).
8. Please do not return to campus for any reason, including volunteering to help, until you are notified that all is clear and safe.

Although our first hope is for a safe and quiet hurricane season in 2006, we want to assure you that every possible precaution will be taken to protect our students, our faculty and staff, and our campus. We ask for your attention and cooperation as we work to communicate decisions and restore operations at Pine Crest School.

With warm wishes for a wonderful summer,

Lourdes M. Cowgill, Ph.D.
Head of School, Fort Lauderdale/
President