For most students at the University, preparing for a hurricane means procrastinating on homework and stocking up on beer. But for the group of students studying at Beaufort this semester, the trifecta of hurricanes that ripped through the state prompted more serious precautions and an unprecedented four evacuations in just two months.
Still, despite the obvious nuisance of unscheduled interruptions and impromptu travel plans, the students said the storms have not tainted their experiences at the Duke Marine Lab.
"Of course it has been [disruptive], but that is what may happen when you are working in an environment that is so variable," said Trinity junior Paola Florez, a resident adviser at Beaufort. "People here, both students and faculty, are very flexible."
Lab director Michael Orbach said the evacuations and subsequent rescheduling of events and classes have certainly posed a challenge to the facility's personnel, but said he admired the students' great "esprit de corps."
"I guess [being adaptive] is a useful life skill in some sense," he added.
Hurricanes are nothing new for the laboratory, which has weathered countless storms. Last year, Hurricane Bonnie spawned a waterspout that destroyed the facility's largest dormitory, but this year's storms have caused no serious damage.
Because of this history, the lab has explicit storm preparation protocol-including moving all equipment away from windows, getting the lab's three research vessels out of harm's way and gathering contact information from students before they leave the island.
The lab does not require that all students head to a single location during an evacuation; some local students return home or to Duke's main campus, while others stay in shelters or with faculty and staff.
In the most recent evacuation for Hurricane Irene, the lab was closed from noon Oct. 17 until 9 a.m. the next morning.
Some of the lab's 42 students said the confusion of the first few unexpected migrations was difficult because they were still trying to get the feel of the lab.
"It is hard to ease into a semester when as soon as you think you are ready you just have to leave again," said Trinity junior Christina Travers. "I am not the type of person who generally freaks out about classes, but even I was like, 'All right, let's start this thing because I need some structure in my life.'"
She said that since the three earlier evacuations-Aug. 30 and Sept. 4 for Hurricane Dennis and Sept. 15 for Hurricane Floyd-students and faculty have settled into a comfortable routine, and that the Irene hiatus caused few problems.
"I do not think this was or is a wasted semester by any means...," Travers said. "Beaufort is a wonderful experience for anyone who wants to learn hands-on science with passionate professors, and I do not think hurricanes have or should ruin this experience."
In fact, several students said witnessing the worst hurricane season in recent memory has actually created a strong sense of community. "The evacuations have done minimal damage to our being in school... and have brought us together in a such a way that we will never forget the great times we had here together," said Trinity junior A. J. Tompkins. "After all, college is not just about studying, but living life with those around you and gaining from those precious experiences."
But for administrators, the hurricane experiences were likely more nerve-wracking than precious; officials must grapple with the risks inherent in student travel.
As Orbach said, "After Floyd, I didn't really rest until they all returned."
This process took several days, he added, because Floyd's floods blocked many of the major roadways leading to the island lab.
"Anytime that you have a situation where people have to move, you do create risk," said Norm Christensen, dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment. "But they're the same risks that exist when students pack up and go home for Thanksgiving."
He added that although administrators would like to have students evacuate into as few locations as possible, there are currently no plans to limit students' options.
"Some people have family or friends relatively nearby, but out of harm's way, and that's not something we've wanted to control," Christensen explained.
However, Orbach added that if severe hurricane seasons become the norm, then the lab might have to reconsider its position.
For example, he said student could all stay in a prearranged block of hotel rooms somewhere out of the storm's path.
Regardless of these concerns about liability and travel, student and faculty suggest the fall semester program should not be changed simply because it coincides with hurricane season.
"Marine labs do have to be on the coast...," Orbach said. "There's really no way to get around that."
Florez stressed that hurricane seasons as severe as the current one are exceptionally rare.
"This is such a unique learning environment," she added, "and it would be absolutely absurd to consider eliminating the fall semester at the lab."
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