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At about 6 p.m. Monday night the snow had started falling, but Kevin Kenyon said he didn't expect any campus-wide cancellations.
A winter storm warning from the National Weather Service is calling it a "potentially catastrophic winter storm."
"We will see if it is necessary canceling classes," he said. "I don't anticipate that happening. We are thoroughly well prepared for a number of different situations."
Kenyon, associate vice president of facilities, said Ball State will use notification text messages to alert students of sensitive conditions on campus or changes in schedules. He said the university will still provide food and services, and he doesn't anticipate damage to the water pipes.
"There will be severe cold on Thursday, below zero temperatures," he said. "Pipes could break. We've done a lot to protect pipes from damage, but somehow they get away from us."
A low-pressure system sweeping across the Western United States reached Central Indiana Monday night, and assistant geography professor David Call says there could be two inches of ice before the end of the day.
His best advice is to make a plan — determine who you might be able to stay with if your power goes out, and stock up on the things you'll need to get through, like peanut butter, bread and bottled water.
The weather service calls for freezing rain and light sleet tonight, with some thin ice and highs only reaching the mid-20s. Call said most of the snow will fall at night, and by mid-morning things should be up and running.
Then comes the bitter cold, he said, as lows will continue to drop to around 10 or 15 degrees.
Chris Callies, a clerk at Village Pantry in the Ball State Village, said he noticed customers coming in for just the essentials Monday night. But he doesn't anticipate running out of gas at the station.
"Everybody's kind of stocking up on multiple packs of cigarettes and batteries," he said. "It depends on whether power goes out around the area."
Callies offered a couple tips for students living off campus.
"Be careful about your pipes," he said. "Leave cabinet doors open. Let the faucet drip a little to let the water flow a little bit."
"It's not a bad idea to use space heaters," he said. "It's not a bad idea to make sure you've got at least half a tank of gas in your car, batteries too and flashlights."
Mark Slusher, deputy director of Delaware County Emergency Management, said he's met with local law enforcements, public works and the highway department to make sure everybody is ready to respond to the icy conditions.
He said he recommends students listen to the radio stations, check the weather online and visit ready.gov to learn more about how to prepare.
Kenyon said the only reason to cancel classes is if the conditions create a "significant hazard." Salt works well on the roads and sidewalks when the temperatures are in the mid-20s, so his crew should be in pretty good shape.
"We are reluctant to close campus because students are already here, and they are paying to be here," he said. "It's unusual and it takes great consideration to cancel classes."
MARG
7-day forecast from the National Weather Service
Today: Light freezing rain or chance of light sleet. Ice accumulation of less than a quarter inch. Highs will be in the mid-20s. Two or three inches of snow could accumulate and ice might thicken. East winds of 25 to 30 mph will decrease to 15 to 25 mph after midnight.
Wednesday: Snow is likely. Highs will reach the mid-20s, and the northeast winds around 15 mph will short to the northwest in the afternoon. Temperatures will drop later that night with lows dropping to 5 degrees.
Thursday: The cold will set in at a range of 2 to 15 degrees for the day and evening.
Friday and Saturday: Partly cloudy with lows around 12 degrees. Temperatures might rise to around 20 degrees Saturday night.
Cancellations due to winter storm:
Muncie Symphony Orchestra Young People's Concert- The concert that was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. today has been canceled.
Applied Technology Building emergency repairs to sanitary sewer- The AT dock will be closed today to allow access for crews performing emergency repairs to the sanitary sewer line. The service drive along the west side of the building will be reduced to one lane for the next two or three days.
What to include in a winter driving kit:
Blankets, flashlight, extra batteries, a brightly colored cloth, sand, shovel, candle, matches, non-perishable high calorie food, first aid kit, jumper cables and a cell phone
-from the Indiana State Police website
For statewide road and weather information visit INDOT's website TrafficWise.IN.gov or dial 800-261-ROAD (7623).
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