- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

Logistical support offered to Union students

[1]

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–Students who suffered through a tornado at Union University Feb. 5 are being guided through logistical challenges by updates posted at uurecovery.com, the school’s official site for recovery information.

Among the various items already posted:

— Union University Counseling Services is sponsoring a care-and-comfort station at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. The station is described as a casual and confidential place for Union’s community to discuss their storm experiences.

Students are advised to call Paul Deschenes at 731-394-2395 to schedule individual or group appointments. Natural groups such as roommates, departments, Greek organizations, staff, faculty, facilities and families work best, the website said.

— All students who suffered damage to personal belongings are encouraged to file the appropriate papers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the possibility of FEMA reimbursement. If a student contacts FEMA at 1-800-621-3362, the process will occur directly between the student and FEMA.

— A housing update posted Feb. 8 addressed how students could retrieve personal belongings from the various residence facilities on campus.

[2]

“Please know that every effort will be made to retrieve all undamaged personal items from the apartments,” Tim Ellsworth, Union’s news director, noted on the website. “We are grateful for your patience and understanding during this challenging process.”

In the McAfee Complex, the Lee, Paschall, Pollard, Rogers, Sullivan and Wright apartments were open Feb. 8 for students to pick up personal items, and university officials said the apartments would be available for students to move in again on Feb. 18.

“All students must check in at the Zeta house and have an approved escort to take them to their apartment,” Ellsworth wrote. “Anyone without an escort will be denied access to their apartment.”

Trips to the apartments are limited to Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m.; and Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Dehoney and Craig apartments will be bagged by the university recovery team only and will be repaired and also available for move-in for the spring semester, the website said. The Jarman apartment will be bagged by the recovery team and will not be available for move-in at any time in the spring. The Gray and Dodd apartments will have limited entry by the university recovery team and will not be available for move-in at any time in the future.

Various buildings in the Hurt Complex and Watters Complex have been approved to be bagged by the recovery team, with items to be placed in an on-campus holding area, the website said. University staff will contact students when their belongings are available for pick-up, with calls beginning as early as Feb. 9. These facilities, however, will not reopen any time in the spring.

All residential students will be contacted beginning Feb. 8 regarding their options for spring housing, the website said.

— Students who lost medications, medical devices, eyeglasses or other health-related items may e-mail Health Services’ Paul Mayer at [email protected]. Emergency requests may be made by calling 731-437-0316, the recovery website said.

— Union students are encouraged to contact their parents’ homeowners insurance agency regarding covering of their campus belongings. Car insurance companies should be contacted regarding car damage and information about the next steps to be taken.

— Students who need temporary identification for air travel or to function as a driver’s license should contact Linda Cone at 731-423-6622. Cost is $20 for out-of-state students or $8 for in-state students. Students will need to obtain an official letter from Dottie Myatt in the Chi Omega house with their name, date of birth and enrollment status. Students needing passports, driver’s licenses or any other identification also can contact Jane Jolley in Sen. Bob Corker’s office at 731-424-9655 or [email protected].

For further information, the university family can contact the call center at 731-668-1818 or 731-661-5000 or e-mail [email protected]. The call center will be open Friday until 10 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; and the following week 7 a.m.-7 p.m., according to the website.
–30–
Compiled by Baptist Press staff writer Erin Roach.