Beginning Thursday, September 7, 2017, the University of Florida issued the first of a multi-day cascade of UF Alerts as Hurricane Irma (at the time the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded outside the Caribbean and Gulf) approached Florida. UF closed its Gainesville campus Sunday, September 10 through Wednesday, September 13. According to the UF Alert 2017 After-Action Report, Irma accounted for 17 of 38 incidents and 27 of 72 messages issued through the UF Alert system in 2017, nearly 38 percent of the entire year's alert volume.
Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.
Some messages in this sequence are documented (their existence, timing, and channel are sourced) but their exact wording is not preserved in the public record. Those entries appear as placeholders; only confirmed text is displayed.
INITIAL ALERTSMS
Verified verbatim·103 chars
Lake Nona RAC will cancel classes starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11. (1 of 2)
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Systemwide; Thursday, September 7th, 2017, 9:50PM
UPDATEEmail+1d
Verified verbatim·1393 chars
In an emergency order, Gov. Rick Scott has directed that all public universities, colleges and K-12 schools close Friday in preparation for Hurricane Irma. No classes at the University of Florida will be held Friday through Monday. Safety and security is one of our highest priorities. Students are encouraged to make appropriate preparations for the pending storm in consultation with their families. Keep in mind current traffic conditions in your decision-making. Residence halls will remain open and some student services. Most employees should stay home but we understand that some will need to come in to close out work that needs to be completed before the storm. As a result, every employee should check with their supervisor about whether they should report to work. All physical plant staff are expected to report at their normal hour. All Residence and Housing staff are expected to report at their normal hour. Because patients will arrive for scheduled appointments, employees of the College of Medicine and UF Health Shands Hospital, and employees of the College of Veterinary Medicine and UF Veterinary Hospitals, should report to work at their regular time. Importantly, university payroll will be approved centrally. Supervisors will not need to approve time as a result. Check floridagators.com for any athletic event schedule changes. Additional details will be forthcoming.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Systemwide; Saturday, September 9th, 2017, 11:26AM
UPDATEEmail+2d
Verified verbatim·1804 chars
Due to the current forecast of Hurricane Irma, the University of Florida’s main campus in Gainesville will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 12. We previously announced the university would be closed on Sunday, Sept. 10, and Monday, Sept. 11. No classes at the University of Florida will be held on any of those days through Tuesday. Only essential university personnel should report for work, although additional personnel may be asked to come in on Tuesday to assess damage and prepare for opening. All employees should check with their supervisor on Tuesday. UF is currently scheduled to reopen and resume classes and normal operations on Wednesday, Sept. 13. We will continue to evaluate campus and community conditions, providing any scheduling updates as needed. For example, the university will consider reopening the J. Wayne Reitz Union when it is safe to do so. The official site for university hurricane information is the UF home page. We ask UF Health clinical and core service personnel to check with their supervisors as to whether they should report to work and provide support to the academic health center for emergency operations. UF/IFAS personnel outside Gainesville should adhere to their county government guidelines on closing. Personnel in other UF programs outside of Gainesville should consult their supervisors. Supervisors, please ensure that all employees, including OPS, are informed of this closure. Notices of any scheduling changes can be found on the UF home page or on the information line at 866-UF-FACTS or 866-833-2287. As always, students and employees in need of immediate assistance should dial 911. Students may also contact U Matter We Care at umatter@ufl.edu or by calling (352) 294-CARE (2273). Employees may call the Employee Assistance Program at (352) 392-5787.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Gainesville; Saturday, September 9th, 11:37AM
UPDATEEmail+2d
Verified verbatim·3461 chars
Due to possible Hurricane Irma impacts, the University of Florida’s main campus in Gainesville will be closed through Tuesday, September 12. Official updates will be posted on http://www.ufl.edu. The University of Florida will be opening an additional emergency shelter inside of the Southwest Recreation Center (Building 0316), for members of the UF community and the general population. The address is 3150 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611. These shelters will be opened on a first-come, first-served basis on Sunday, September 10, at 10 a.m. We will open the Southwest Recreation Center earlier if needed and announce any changes in the opening time. Most members of UF’s community will shelter in their residence or home and/or with family and friends. People who should consider going to this emergency shelter may live in manufactured housing and/or within flood-prone areas. Students who live in residence halls should remain in their halls and follow housing staff instructions. The emergency shelters will remain open until the tropical storm force winds from Hurricane Irma subside and close when outside conditions are deemed safe by public safety officials. Additional shelters could be opened depending on demand. The emergency shelter will be located in Southwest Recreation Center. Enter the shelter from the northeast entrance inside the protective wind screen. Nearby parking may be available in parking lots along Hull Road. Campus parking restrictions are waived through Tuesday. Entrance to the Steinbrenner shelter will require an active UF affiliation and Gator1 ID. Non-affiliated people must be accompanied by a sponsoring individual with a valid Gator1 ID at all times. Please be advised: • No pets or comfort animals will be allowed into the shelter, only ADA service animals are permitted. Alachua County offers two pet-friendly shelters. • Each individual will be allocated 20 square feet of personal space. • Please provide your own bedding (i.e. pillows, blankets, sheets, air mattresses etc.). • Basic food options will be provided. If you have dietary restrictions, please bring your own food. • Don’t forget your chargers for electronic devices, and head phones/ear buds for video and audio use. • Please bring your own medicines and/or medical supplies. • No re-entry will be allowed after exiting the shelter. A representative from the Counseling and Wellness Center and the Student Health Care Center will be available at the emergency shelter. UF Police Department will provide security. Classes are expected to resume on Wednesday, September 13. Other scheduling updates and storm information will be posted regularly on UF’s home page, http://www.ufl.edu. For immediate life-safety concerns dial 9-1-1. This is an automated UF Alert system message. This email account is not actively monitored for replies. – UF students, faculty and staff can update their contact information or subscription preferences at http://ufl.to/editufalert. – UF Health staff can update their contact information and subscription preferences at http://ufl.to/editufalertshands. – Learn more about UF Alert, including FAQs at http://ufalert.ufl.edu/ . – Download the GatorSafe app on your mobile device at http://ufl.to/gatorsafe. Non-Emergency Contact Numbers: – UF Police Department: (352) 392-1111 (UF Alert – Gainesville) – UF Health Shands Hospital Contact Center: (352) 265-0111 (UF Alert – Shands)
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Shands; Sunday, September 10th, 2017, 11:02AM
UPDATEEmail+3d
Verified verbatim·1988 chars
With the emergency shelter at the Steinbrenner Band Hall full, there is an additional emergency shelter inside of the Southwest Recreation Center (Building 0316), for members of the UF community and the general population. The address is 3150 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611. Most members of UF’s community will shelter in their residence or home and/or with family and friends. People who should consider going to this emergency shelter may live in manufactured housing and/or within flood-prone areas. Students who live in residence halls should remain in their halls and follow housing staff instructions. The emergency shelters will remain open until the tropical storm force winds from Hurricane Irma subside and close when outside conditions are deemed safe by public safety officials. Additional shelters could be opened depending on demand. The emergency shelter is located in Southwest Recreation Center. Enter the shelter from the northeast entrance inside the protective wind screen. Nearby parking may be available in parking lots along Hull Road. Campus parking restrictions are waived through Tuesday. Please be advised: • No pets or comfort animals will be allowed into the shelter, only ADA service animals are permitted. Alachua County offers two pet-friendly shelters. • Each individual will be allocated 20 square feet of personal space. • Please provide your own bedding (i.e. pillows, blankets, sheets, air mattresses etc.). • Basic food options will be provided. If you have dietary restrictions, please bring your own food. • Don't forget your chargers for electronic devices, and head phones/ear buds for video and audio use. • Please bring your own medicines and/or medical supplies. • No re-entry will be allowed after exiting the shelter. A representative from the Counseling and Wellness Center and the Student Health Care Center will be available at the emergency shelter. UF Police Department will provide security.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Gainesville; Sunday, September 10th, 2017, 11:08AM
UPDATEEmail+3d
Verified verbatim·2283 chars
The University of Florida is currently scheduled to reopen and resume normal operations on Wednesday, Sept. 13. However, due to the current forecast of Hurricane Irma, classes at UF will not be held through Wednesday. We will continue to evaluate campus and community conditions, providing any scheduling updates as needed. After the storm passes, we will be providing more information for those who have particular hardships and challenges. As announced, the university will be closed through Tuesday, Sept. 12. Essential personnel should report to work on Monday and Tuesday as scheduled. Although there are no classes on Wednesday, all employees are expected to return to work Wednesday. Employees unable to return to work because of a storm-related hardship should notify their supervisor. UF/IFAS personnel outside Gainesville should adhere to their county government guidelines on closing. Personnel in other UF programs outside of Gainesville should consult their supervisors. Supervisors, please ensure that all employees, including OPS, are informed of this closure. Clinical faculty and staff in the UF Health Science Center colleges and clinical practices will receive direct communication from their college and supervisors concerning their assignments for Wednesday Sept. 13. UF Health Shands Hospital remains open; as such, all UF Health Gainesville campus parking areas — including faculty/staff and patient/visitor garages and lots on the UF Health campus and Archer Road — are reserved for use by faculty and staff who will be working during Hurricane Irma. If students, faculty or staff are parked here and are not part of emergency response efforts, please be aware the vehicles that do not have faculty/staff parking decals will be towed. These spaces need to be accessible to essential UF Health personnel who are working Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in response to Hurricane Irma. Notices of any scheduling changes can be found on the UF home page or on the information line at 1-866-UF-FACTS or 1-866-833-2287. As always, students and employees in need of immediate assistance should dial 911. Students may also contact U Matter We Care at umatter@ufl.edu or by calling (352) 294-CARE (2273). Employees may call the Employee Assistance Program at (352) 392-5787.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Lake Nona; Sunday, September 10th, 2017, 6:42PM
UPDATESMS+4d
Verified verbatim·153 chars
update: IT and phone system could experience outages. Print out MARS. Cells phones and red phones could be used if possible. No specific time for outage.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Gainesville; Monday, September 11th, 2017, 8:09AM
UPDATEEmail+4d
Verified verbatim·855 chars
University of Florida officials continue to assess damages on campus. Local law enforcement and other first responders report most major roads are impassable across the county from downed trees, and on campus, Lake Alice has overflowed its banks flooding Mowry Road, Museum Road and Gale Lemerand Drive. Even if the weather clears, UF faculty and staff should not come to campus for any reason unless they are essential personnel or called in by their supervisors. Students should stay indoors, and not walk or bike around campus until UF officials deem it safe. Numerous limbs are dangling precariously from trees, and high winds will continue through the afternoon. If you are in a safe shelter now, that’s where you should stay for the time being. All employees outside of Alachua County should follow guidance from their local public safety officials.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Shands; Monday, September 11th, 2017, 6:11PM
UPDATEEmail+5d
Wording not preserved
This message is documented at this point in the sequence, but its exact wording is not preserved in the public record. The public edition displays only confirmed alert text.
The University of Florida currently plans to reopen on Wednesday, with classes resuming Thursday. The past few days have brought devastation to our state, particularly in the southern part. Some members of our university community have suffered significant loss. In Gainesville, there is widespread power loss and some roads remain impassable due to downed trees and floods. Our Gainesville campus never lost power, and apart from numerous downed trees, some flooding and modest damage, the campus was not affected to the extent we were expecting. UF has facilities in every Florida county and, in most cases, those facilities were spared from significant damage. Weather conditions improved today. Considerable progress has been made in clearing Gainesville roads and much of the flooding has subsided. We expect limited RTS bus service to be restored Tuesday with full service by Wednesday. The J. Wayne Reitz Union will open Tuesday noon to 8 p.m. and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The game room will be open and limited food services will be available. With students on campus, we also plan to open UF libraries and the Florida Museum of Natural History on Tuesday. Times will be announced later. Although classes are planning to resume on Thursday, students not currently in Gainesville must use their best judgment in deciding the right time to travel back to campus, making safety a priority. We are asking faculty members and academic staff to be as flexible and understanding as possible to personal hardship experienced by students. We encourage any students in need of assistance to contact U Matter We Care at umatter@ufl.edu. We will do our best to assist students on a case-by-case basis. All employees are expected to report to work at their normal time on Wednesday. We understand that some employees will have personal hardships that will prevent them from returning to work on Wednesday. Supervisors please be as flexible and understanding as possible. UF facilities outside of Gainesville should continue to follow county closing guidance. Employees unable to return to work should contact their supervisors with that information, and supervisors should communicate this information up through their chain of supervision. UF Human Resources will provide guidance to college and vice presidential areas about next steps to assist those employees. UF Health Clinical faculty and staff in the UF Health Science Center colleges and clinical practices will receive direct communication from their college and supervisors concerning their assignments for Wednesday Sept. 13. UF Health Shands Hospital has and will remain open. UF Health Jacksonville will communicate to employees on any scheduling changes. We also are working to identify ways to provide financial and other support to our students, staff, and faculty in need. More details will follow, including how you can help members of our community who need additional assistance as we all work to recover from the storm. We are grateful for all those working to help our university recover. Resuming campus operations will require personal sacrifices. We all should be proud; that is the Gator way.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Systemwide; Monday, September 11th, 2017, 7:42PM
UPDATEEmail+5d
Verified verbatim·2534 chars
One day after Hurricane Irma swept through North Florida, the University of Florida is actively cleaning up campus to make way for employees and the restart of business operations on Wednesday. Students will report back for classes on Thursday. We are asking faculty members and academic staff to be as flexible and understanding as possible to personal hardships experienced by students. We encourage any students in need of assistance to contact U Matter We Care at umatter@ufl.edu. We will do our best to assist students on a case-by-case basis. We are seeing a number of student services reopen including the Reitz Union at noon today with limited services. Tomorrow it will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Library West will open at 1 p.m. today and resume a 24-hour schedule. All libraries will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday as will the Starbucks in Library West and Marston. The Florida Museum of Natural History will reopen at the normal time on Wednesday. RTS bus service has resumed today with limited routes. Check http://go-rts.com/ for routes and schedules. Check for additional facility openings at www.ufl.edu. While parking restrictions are lifted through today, we ask that anyone who parked in restricted flat lots or garages during the storm to please relocate their vehicles before Wednesday. All employees should inspect their workspaces and report any problems to Facilities Services at 392-1121. Employees in storm-damaged buildings should follow instructions from their supervisors regarding alternate work arrangements. Employees unable to return to work should contact their supervisors with that information, and supervisors should communicate this information up through their chain of supervision. Supervisors please be as flexible and understanding as possible. UF Human Resources will provide guidance to college and vice presidential areas about next steps to assist those employees. UF Health Shands hospitals, the UF Health Shands E.R., the UF Health Shands Trauma Center, the UF Health Shands Pediatric E.R., the UF Health Shands Emergency Center – Springhill and the UF Health Emergency Center – Kanapaha remain open and hospital-based services for inpatients continue operations. All UF Health Physicians practices and services will be fully open on Wednesday, Sept. 13. For up-to-date information on all UF Health Science Center clinical practices, please visit UFHealth.org or call 352-265-0008. Employees working in facilities outside of Gainesville should contact their supervisors. Stay safe everyone.
Recovered from UF AAR Attachment 1; UF Alert-Shands; Wednesday, September 13th, 2017, 4:20PM
Message elements
How the first alert is built
To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.
Lake Nona RAC will cancel classes starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11. (1 of 2)
Sourceabsent4/25
Final assessment
Most reads found 'Lake Nona RAC' names a facility or site rather than a clear issuing authority or agency; a minority treated the facility name as an adequate sender identification, but the majority view that no authority is truly named wins out.
Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.
See all 25 individual reads
absent: No sender or authority identified, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the issuing campus site.
absent: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a facility, not a clear sending authority.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the sending unit.
absent: No sender or authority identified.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' identifies the sending facility.
absent: No sender or authority named, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: No specific authority named, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: No sender/authority named, just describes a facility.
absent: No sender or authority named, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: No sender/authority identified beyond 'Lake Nona RAC' as a location name.
absent: No sender identified in this fragment.
absent: No sender or authority named, only 'Lake Nona RAC' as a location/entity, not clearly the issuer.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' identifies the issuing unit.
absent: No sender or authority explicitly named.
absent: No sender or authority named.
absent: No sender or authority identified, only 'Lake Nona RAC' as a facility name.
absent: No sender/authority identified beyond 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: No sender or authority named, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: No sender/authority named, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: No sender/authority identified beyond 'Lake Nona RAC' as a facility name.
absent: No sender or authority named, just 'Lake Nona RAC'.
absent: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a facility but not a sending authority/agency.
absent: No sender or authority named.
absent: No sender or authority named for the cancellation.
Hazardabsent0/25
Final assessment
Unanimous: no reason or specific threat is given for the class cancellation.
What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.
See all 25 individual reads
absent: No specific threat named, only class cancellation announced.
absent: No specific threat is named, only that classes are cancelled.
absent: No specific hazard named, just class cancellation.
absent: No hazard named, just cancellation of classes.
absent: No specific threat named; just a cancellation notice.
absent: No reason for class cancellation is stated.
absent: No specific hazard named for the cancellation.
absent: No hazard specified for the cancellation.
absent: No specific threat named, only cancellation of classes.
absent: No hazard named, just class cancellation.
absent: No hazard specified, only class cancellation.
absent: No specific hazard named, only class cancellation.
absent: No hazard named, only class cancellation.
absent: No hazard stated, only class cancellation.
absent: No specific hazard named, only class cancellation.
absent: No specific hazard named, only class cancellation.
absent: No specific hazard named for the cancellation.
absent: No hazard named, only class cancellation.
absent: No specific hazard named for the class cancellation.
absent: No hazard named, just class cancellation.
absent: No hazard named, only that classes are cancelled.
absent: No hazard named, only class cancellations.
absent: No threat named, just class cancellation.
absent: No threat named, only class cancellation.
absent: No specific threat named that caused cancellation.
Locationpresent24/25
Final assessment
Nearly unanimous: 'Lake Nona RAC' is read as naming the specific affected site, with only one dissenting read treating it merely as the sender rather than a location.
Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.
See all 25 individual reads
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a specific facility.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' identifies the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location/campus.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a specific place.
absent: No specific place beyond the sender's own name.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' named as location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a place.
present: Names 'Lake Nona RAC'.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' is named as location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' is named as location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location.
present: Names 'Lake Nona RAC' as the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a place.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' given as location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the affected location.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names the affected site.
present: 'Lake Nona RAC' names a specific place.
Guidanceabsent0/25
Final assessment
Unanimous: the message is purely a schedule notice with no protective action instructed.
The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.
See all 25 individual reads
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed, only a schedule change.
absent: No protective action instructed to recipients.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed, just a schedule notice.
absent: No protective action instructed beyond class cancellation notice.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action, only a schedule notice.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action, only informational cancellation.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed, only class cancellation notice.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective instruction, only class cancellation notice.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective action instructed.
absent: No protective instruction given.
absent: No instructed protective action, only a class cancellation notice.
Timepresent25/25
Final assessment
Unanimous: specific dates are given, 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11.'
When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.
See all 25 individual reads
present: 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11' gives specific dates.
present: Gives 'Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11'.
present: 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11' gives dates.
present: Gives dates 'Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11'.
present: 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11' gives dates.
present: Gives specific dates Thursday 9/7 through Monday 9/11.
present: 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11' gives specific dates.
present: Gives specific dates 'Thursday, 9/7' through 'Monday, 9/11'.
present: Gives specific dates 'Thursday, 9/7 through...Monday, 9/11'.
present: 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11' gives dates.
present: 'starting Thursday, 9/7 through the weekend and Monday, 9/11' gives dates.
Impactabsent0/25
Final assessment
Unanimous: no consequence or severity is stated.
What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.
See all 25 individual reads
absent: No consequence or severity stated.
absent: No consequence or severity is described.
absent: No stated consequence or severity.
absent: No stated consequence or severity.
absent: No consequence or severity stated.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No consequence or severity described.
absent: No consequence stated.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No consequence stated.
absent: No consequence stated.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No consequence stated.
absent: No stated consequence or severity.
absent: No stated consequence or severity.
absent: No consequence stated.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No consequence stated.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No consequence or severity stated.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No stated consequence or severity.
absent: No stated consequence.
absent: No stated consequence or severity.
Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.
Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that struck the Florida Keys on September 10, 2017 as a Category 4 (130 mph at Cudjoe Key, 9:10 AM EDT) and made a second landfall at Marco Island as Category 3 the same afternoon (115 mph at 3:35 PM EDT). At the time it was the most intense Atlantic hurricane to strike the United States since Wilma in 2005 and prompted the largest mandatory evacuation in Florida history, approximately 6.5 million Floridians under evacuation orders. Governor Rick Scott directed all public K-12 schools, state colleges, state universities, and state offices to close from Friday September 8 through Monday September 11 to ensure shelter capacity. The University of Florida (the state's flagship public R1 in Gainesville) extended its closure through Wednesday, September 13. According to the UF Alert 2017 After-Action Report, Hurricane Irma response 'directly accounted for seventeen of the thirty-eight incidents issued, with twenty-seven of the seventy-two messages associated with the hurricane, representing nearly thirty-eight percent of all UF Alerts sent during 2017.' This makes Irma the single largest emergency-notification campaign in the history of UF Alert through at least 2024. UF Health Shands Hospital remained open throughout, a recurring exception in UF hurricane planning because the academic medical center serves as a regional Level-I trauma referral center. The Gainesville area received tropical-storm-force winds Sunday evening September 10 through Monday morning September 11, with widespread tree damage but minimal structural impact on UF buildings. UF resumed normal operations Thursday, September 14. The Irma response established the UF Alert template later used for Hurricane Michael in 2018, Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Hurricane Ian in 2022, and the Helene/Milton sequence in 2024, most notably the practice of including UF Health Shands as a perpetual exception, the 866-UF-FACTS information line activation, and the 'faculty flexibility' closing language.
Analysis
Key Findings
01Hurricane Irma response accounted for 17 of 38 incidents and 27 of 72 messages issued through UF Alert in 2017, nearly 38 percent of the entire year's alert volume
02UF closed its Gainesville campus Sunday, September 10 through Wednesday, September 13, 2017
03Irma made its first Florida landfall at Cudjoe Key as Category 4 (130 mph) at 9:10 AM EDT on September 10 and second landfall at Marco Island as Category 3 (115 mph) at 3:35 PM EDT the same day
04UF Health Shands Hospital remained open throughout, a recurring exception in UF hurricane planning
05The Irma response established the UF Alert template later used for Michael (2018), Dorian (2019), Ian (2022), and Helene/Milton (2024)
06The closing 'faculty flexibility' language from the September 13 reopening message has been repeated verbatim in subsequent UF hurricane alerts through 2024
Provenance
Sources
Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.
Campus Alert Archive. "University of Florida: A single hurricane response makes up nearly 38 percent of a year's emergency alerts." Incident of September 7, 2017. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-florida-hurricane-irma-2017-09-07/