Hurricane Preparedness & Essential Personnel
This message has been approved by Renisha Gibbs, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Finance & Administration Chief of Staff, for distribution to all Deans, Directors, and Department Heads.
With the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, it is important for departments to review their emergency preparedness plans. While preparedness can be fluid depending on the type or timing of an emergency, taking the time to evaluate all possible scenarios will make it easier when an impending threat arises.
The department should identify employees who may be designated as essential during an emergency. Some factors in identifying essential personnel include, but are not limited to:
- those ensuring the safety and security of campus facilities and information technology
- protection of University assets
- maintenance of research labs and utilities that cannot be shut down
- planning of student activities
- administration of tasks to meet mission-critical deadlines, including grant deadlines.
Contingent upon the type and timing of the emergency, essential employees may not be required to work during a campus closure. However, if an employee who has been identified as essential is activated to perform work, they will be required to complete job duties as assigned, which may include on-campus or remote work. Compensation of essential personnel will be made in accordance with the Essential Personnel Designation & Compensation policy. Additional timekeeping guidance will be released by Human Resources on or around the time of the emergency.
All University employees are encouraged to have a family emergency plan and have a disaster supply kit. To monitor the operational status of Florida State University, employees should check https://alerts.fsu.edu/
Questions? Please contact Emergency Management or a member of the Attendance & Leave staff.
