UPDATE: VCU closes tonight, tomorrow for winter storm

Sarah King
Staff Writer

UPDATE: VCU will be opening at 10 a.m. tomorrow,  Feb. 14, due to inclement weather. 

VCU will close today at 4 p.m. due to expected inclement weather tonight. The university alerted students around noon via text message and email that the university will remain closed Feb. 13, as well.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a statewide state of emergency yesterday afternoon ahead of the storm. The National Weather Service predicts Richmond’s snow accumulation will total between four to eight inches tonight and one to three inches tomorrow.

“We are already working to pre-treat sidewalks around the buildings and in the courtyards of the residence halls,” said Allison Patel, assistant director of facilities for VCU residential life and housing. “The housing maintenance staff is working in 12-hour cycles in order to continuously clear sidewalks, pathways and emergency exits.”

Patel also said the residential housing staff is preparing for the storm by purchasing snacks and games for residents as well as checking flashlights and topping off all generators with fuel.

“If we do lose power, we will still have heat and water, and the generators will provide emergency lighting for moving through the halls,” Patel said.

Residence hall assistants and security staff will be available for emergency requests despite the university closure.

The VCU basketball game against George Washington University is still scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight.

VCU dental clinics, all libraries, gyms and dining facilities with the exception of Market 810, Shafer and Jonah’s will close, according to VCU Dining Services. The VCU Medical Center remains fully operational. The VCU Medical Center clinics will open at noon tomorrow.

Dining services representatives are unsure of when central dining facilities will close today and tomorrow.

Follow @TheCT on Twitter for weather updates.

Dining center closing times

Monroe Park Campus

• Harris Hall convenience store – 4 p.m.
• Bleecker St. – 4 p.m.
• Starbucks at Cary & Belvidere – 5 p.m.
• Student Commons restaurants – 5 p.m.
• Cary Street Market & Deli – 6 p.m.
• IHOP Express – 7 p.m.
• Shafer – 9 p.m.
• Starbucks at Cabell Library – 9 p.m.
• Chili’s – 9 p.m.
• Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers – 11 p.m.
• Croutons, Salads & Wraps – 11 p.m.

MCV

• Hideaway café – 4 p.m.
• Jonah’s – 6 p.m.
• Starbucks at Larrick Student Center – 6 p.m.
• Einstein Bros Bagels – 7 p.m.
• Wendy’s – 9 p.m.

Priority snow removal locations

VCU identifies streets around the Siegel Center, Shafer Street, West Grace Street, and parts of Laurel Street, West Main Street and Broad Street as top priorities for snow removal on the Monroe Park Campus during an emergency, according to a VCU facilities management map.

Sidewalks and streets between 11th Street, 12th Street, Marshall Street, Turpin Street and others are labelled as level one snow removal priorities.

Parking decks including the I Lot, O Lot, 8th Street Parking Deck, Deck N, the F/J Lot, the P Lot and Deck D will also be treated first for snow removal and ice.