Wake Forest University is taking steps to keep the campus community safe with Hurricane Florence projected to bring heavy rains and sustained winds to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County area later this week.
University leaders are working closely with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, as well as state and local officials, to monitor potential impacts to campus. Florence is expected to make landfall late Thursday, Sept. 13 or early Friday, Sept. 14, so we are still several days from understanding its likely impact to the areas on and around campus.
The National Weather Service is currently projecting 4-6 inches of rain, or possibly more. Flooding, tropical storm force winds (greater than 39 mph) and power outages in the Winston-Salem area are possible.
The University recommends that students, faculty and staff stay informed about weather forecasts for the Triad and surrounding areas. Local news organizations, including WXII, WGHP, WFMY, Spectrum News Triad, Winston-Salem Journal and WFDD will be good resources for the latest information.
Please familiarize yourself with and bookmark Wake Alert now, while conditions are normal. In an emergency, alerts and updates will be posted on the Wake Alert website (wakealert.wfu.edu) and distributed through other methods.
All future Hurricane Florence-related emails and other news will be posted to the Wake Alert website. Students, faculty and staff are also encouraged to:
- Register for text alerts available to students, faculty and staff.
- Follow @WakeAlert on Twitter and on Facebook (facebook.com/WakeAlert)
- Add the Wake Forest Weather/Emergency line (336-758-5935) to phone contacts.
The University will keep students, faculty and staff informed and will send an update Tuesday morning.
Wake Forest Communications and External Relations

Campus Emergencies
The Wake Alert website is the primary information source during an emergency at Wake Forest. Updates and information will appear on this site. Other options include:
-
- Alerts on X
- Alerts on Facebook
- Sign up for Text Alerts (WFU students & employees only)
- Alerts through Wake Safe app
University Police
- Call 911 from campus phone
- Call 336.758.5911 from cell phone or off-campus phone
For non-emergency contact information, visit the University Police website. Download the Wake Safe app for other options. If you wish to provide information anonymously, do so through “Silent Witness.”
Counseling
- WFU Counseling Center: 336.758.5273
- Chaplain: 336.758.5210
- Employee Assistance Program: 336.716.5493
Media
Call 336.758.5237 to reach University Marketing and Communications. Calls will be returned as the situation permits.
Preparedness & Response
Be prepared for emergencies and understand more about communication and response by reviewing topics on this site, including: