High Winds and Other Severe Weather
Closures may be announced at any time as conditions change but every effort is made to announce morning closures by 6:30 a.m., and evening closures by 3 p.m. Updates are posted as soon as possible.
Closures are announced on LaneAlert, FlashAlert.net, the college homepage, Facebook and Twitter pages, and on the switchboard. LaneAlert is the fastest way to get information. Students and employees are automatically signed up for LaneAlert. If you need to make changes, go through the myLane system.
Each decision is likely to inconvenience someone. Lane does its best to ensure safety and accessibility for as many students as possible and encourages individuals to use caution and make the best decisions they can for themselves, whether confronting bad weather or other challenges.
Public agencies such as colleges have found that delays often create more confusion than closing for the day or remaining open for the day. Individual school districts may still delay depending on changing conditions in their vicinities.
If you miss class due to the weather or for any reason beyond your control, talk to your instructor or department head.
Gusting winds can bring down trees, power lines and signs and turn unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles. Below are tips for staying safe during high wind warnings.
If you are caught inside during high winds:
Stay in an interior room or basement of your house/business. Interestingly, according to high wind preparedness experts, garage doors are often the first feature in a home to fail due to high winds.
Avoid windows.
• Do not remain in light or poorly constructed structures that may be subject to blow down or collapse.
• Stay out of structures with wide, free-span roofs like auditoriums and gyms.
• Secure or move indoors all items which could become projectiles.
• Avoid areas/structures immediately subject to tree/branch falls (special note: pine beetle-kill forest areas are uniquely subject to blow-down due to dried or damaged root systems).
If you are caught outside during high winds:
• Take cover next to a building or under a secure shelter.
• Stand clear of roadways or train tracks, as a gust may blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
• Use handrails where available and avoid elevated areas such as roofs.
In the event of a downed power line:
• Report downed lines to your local utility emergency center and to the police.
• Avoid anything that may be touching downed lines, including vehicles or tree branches.
• If a line falls on your car, stay inside the vehicle. Do not touch any part of the metal frame of your vehicle.
• Honk your horn, roll down the window and warn anyone who may approach of the danger. Ask someone to call the police.
• Do not exit the car until help arrives, unless it catches fire. To exit, open the door, but do not step out. Jump without touching any of the metal portions of the car's exterior, and quickly get safe ground.
If you are driving:
• Keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.
• Watch for objects blowing across the roadway and into your path.
• Keep a safe distance from cars in adjacent lanes, as strong gusts could push a car outside its lane of travel.
• Take extra care in a high-profile vehicle such as trucks, vans, SUVs, or when towing a trailer, as these are more prone to being pushed or flipped by high wind gusts.
• If winds are severe enough to prevent safe driving, safely pull over onto the shoulder of the road and stop, making sure you are away from trees or other tall objects that could fall onto your vehicle.
Q. How do we know if Lane is closed due to weather?
A. When a decision is made to close Lane Community College or delay classes due to severe weather, the college posts communications with news media, at lanecc.edu, at flashalert.net, and sends a LaneAlert emergency message. Lane students and employees are automatically signed up for LaneAlert but may change their contact information through the college's online myLane system. Do not call news stations directly; this delays their ability to bring you the latest information.
Q. When will we know that Lane is closed?
A. Closures or delays can be announced at any time as conditions change; however, every effort is made to announce morning closures or delays by 6:30 a.m., and evening closures by 3 p.m.
Q. What do delays mean?
A. If the opening of classes is delayed, report to class at the new starting time if at least 50 minutes of class/lab time remains. For example, if opening is delayed to 10 a.m., classes and labs that normally begin at 10 a.m. or are already in session at 10 a.m. would meet, but only if the normal ending time for that class or lab is 10:50 a.m. or later. The remainder of the day would continue on the regular schedule.
Q. What routes are best?
A. When 30th Avenue is icy, some people drive in from the east via Franklin.
Q. What about LTD?
A. In general, LTD operates buses to Lane when Lane is open; however, drivers may choose alternate routes. An LTD route change does not necessarily indicate a college closure.
Q. What about snow and ice removal on main campus?
A. When snow and ice accumulate on Main Campus, warning signs are posted at entrances and work crews spread ice melter in pellet and spray form on sidewalks and traffic lanes. Snow plows clear the main south parking lots and traffic lanes connecting Eldon Schafer Drive and Gonyea Road. Since the Eugene area is fairly temperate and does not get exposed to extreme reoccurring heavy snow or icy winter conditions, the Lane facilities department has limited equipment and treatment resources to react to sudden accumulating snow or widespread icy conditions. It is very important that everyone use appropriate footwear, wear gloves, use handrails, take extra precautions in wintry conditions, and expect slick spots on cold mornings.
Call Facilities, Management and Planning at (541) 463-5000 to report unsafe conditions or concerns.
Cottage Grove Weather Forecast