HOUSTON – Starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Tulane University in New Orleans will be closed. For those who can’t leave on their own, the school is evacuating the remaining students to Houston.
KPRC 2 has learned nearly 1,800 students are arriving on Tuesday and will stay at both the Hyatt Regency and Marriott Marquis. More students are expected to arrive Wednesday.
“I never thought in a million years I would be off school for five weeks off campus because of a hurricane,” Tulane freshman Annabeth Cohen told KPRC 2 as she rode the bus to Houston on Tuesday.
Cohen, a Kentucky native, moved into her dorm room about two weeks ago.
“I can’t believe we are leaving. I feel like we have only been there two weeks and it was the best weeks of my life. It’s pretty sad,” she said.
Cohen rode out the Category 4 hurricane at times in the hallway of her dorm. While generators kept the lights on through the storm she said the power went out Monday.
Cohen said there is damage to some parts of the campus and the dorm rooms.
“A lot of my friends had really bad water damage and flooding in their room and water coming in through the windows or from the floor above them,” said Cohen.
The focus for Cohen and many other exhausted students is on those who lost the most.
“Hopefully, we can come together as a community and help everyone else in Louisiana who wasn’t as lucky as us,” she said.
School is set to reopen in mid-October.
If students are not able to make it home from Houston, Tulane University is finding temporary accommodations until the school reopens.
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University President Mike Fitts tweeted pictures Monday night saying he met with students before their departure.
Fitts added: “We are continuing to take all of the necessary steps to keep our campus and community safe.”
I met with many of our students on campus tonight ahead of their departure for Houston. A large and dedicated staff have been with our students before, during and after the storm. We are continuing to take all of the necessary steps to keep our campus and community safe. pic.twitter.com/o2Xh3Ngy8e
— Mike Fitts (@TUFitts) August 31, 2021
Right now, all of Orleans Parish is without power and it’s impacting the sewage system. It’s expected to take weeks to restore and repair.
The football coach for Louisiana State University said LSU students have already arrived in Houston. The coach posted this picture of the team practicing at NRG on social media saying, “Our team is safe in Houston preparing to give our fans a great game.”
Our thoughts and prayers go out to our great fans in the state of Louisiana. Our team is safe in Houston preparing to give our fans a great game. We want thank the City of Houston and the Houston Texans for their hospitality. Geaux Tigers pic.twitter.com/yHh0yVXM9f
— Coach Ed Orgeron (@Coach_EdOrgeron) August 31, 2021
The team is getting ready for their game against UCLA on Saturday. They’ll leave Houston for Los Angeles on Thursday.
Once students from Tulane arrive, Tulane University is asking students to make travel arrangements out of Houston within the next two to three days. Those who are unable can request to stay with staff in Houston until the university reopens.
At this point, they’re set to return in October.
Here is KPRC 2′s previously coverage: