Second-year College student Gray Crabtree traveled to the University of Florida this weekend to attend her boyfriend's formal, expecting to fly home Sunday evening. Then Hurricane Jeanne arrived.
"All of the flights back to Virginia from all the airports in the area were canceled until Tuesday," Crabtree said. "This is a serious inconvenience for me because I have a test on Wednesday and I did not bring any of my materials with me."
Hurricane Jeanne, Florida's fourth hurricane in six weeks, has done additional damage to the southern state. The storm killed at least six people, and at least 2.5 million homes and businesses were without power as of Sunday night, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to hit Virginia today in the late morning and should clear out by late evening.
Although authorities previously had anticipated tornadoes in central Virginia, the size of the storm appears to be dying down, enough so that it should eliminate the possibility of a tornado, the Weather Service reported yesterday.
This storm is predicted to be the mildest of the previous hurricanes which swept through the area earlier this fall.
Director of Facilities Operations Chris Willis said the University is well prepared for storms crossing Virginia, as officials have had to prepare for bad weather several times this semester.
"We have had lots of practice this fall," Willis said.
Willis said the previous storms have not turned out to be as intense as predicted and left the University with very minimal damage.
"The previous storms have been rain with no accompanying high winds," Willis said. "So there has been minimal destruction and no power outages. However, you still have to be cautious."
Willis said these preparations include having extra dry food and water on hand, staying out of the storm and staying away from knocked-down trees and power lines.
The rain, as always, causes inconveniences for students who have to walk to class.
"I hate the rain because I have five classes on Tuesdays, and now I'm going to be soaked during all of them," second-year College student Adam Backels said.
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