Southwest Recreation Center on UF campus to open as a storm shelter for UF affiliates

The University of Florida will open the Southwest Recreation Center on the Gainesville campus as a storm shelter on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. for UF students, faculty and staff, and their families.

Members of the UF community who plan to shelter at Southwest Recreation Center are encouraged to head there before weather conditions deteriorate.

Those planning to seek refuge with their families must remain in the shelter together for the duration of the event. Food will be provided for sheltered guests.

Students who live on campus should shelter in place within their residence hall and follow all housing staff instructions. Generally, off-campus students will shelter in their home or apartment. Those in flood-prone areas, manufactured, sub-standard, or otherwise unsafe housing should seek shelter.

Students who live on campus may keep their cars in their designated parking spaces. Those seeking refuge at the Southwest Recreation Center may park on campus but avoid UF Health garages, as those will be needed for UF Health employees and patients. 

Please note that the Southwest Recreation Center shelter is not pet friendly. Those wishing to seek refuge with a pet must shelter at an Alachua County general population pet-friendly shelter.

As of this message, no evacuation order had been issued for Alachua County and was not anticipated outside of those in manufactured housing and flood-prone areas.

What: Storm shelter for UF affiliates

Where: Southwest Recreation Center, 3150 Hull Road, Gainesville

When: 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9.

To gain entry, UF affiliates must bring the following items: 

• GatorONE card or Mobile GatorONE for identification.

Other supplies to consider include: 

• Bedding materials, including an air mattress or mat. UF does not provide bedding to shelter guests.
• Reading material or board games.
• Cell phone, a tablet or laptop with charged batteries and chargers.
• Prescription medications.

UF announced on Monday that it will close its offices and cancel classes, including online classes, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 and continuing through Thursday, Oct. 10. The university expects to communicate on Thursday regarding operational plans for Friday; however, the university currently expects to resume normal operations on Friday morning.