As Hurricane Irma continues to crawl up Florida’s west coast, the University of Montevallo is taking the precautionary step of closing Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, because of the possibility of dangerous weather in and around Shelby County.
UM made the announcement just before 8 p.m. Sunday via email, UM Alert texts, automated phone messages and social media posts.
For students on campus, the cafeteria will open for all meals Monday and Tuesday, but food options in Farmer Hall will be closed. All extracurricular activities are also canceled.
Numerous school systems, including Shelby County Schools, decided to close Monday and Tuesday.
Gov. Kay Ivey declared a State of Emergency for Alabama Friday. Over the weekend, the governor authorized a level one activation of the State Emergency Operations Center in Clanton and the activation of the Alabama National Guard.
“I want to ensure that our people are in place to respond immediately to whatever Irma may bring our way. We are ready to protect the people of Alabama and those who have recently sought refuge in our state,” Gov. Ivey said in a press release.
According to the National Weather Service’s Birmingham office, Shelby County could see sustained winds of 35 mph. Wind gusts could be as high as 48 mph. The Montevallo area could see more than three inches of rain Monday and Tuesday.
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