Every year, natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes disrupt normal activities due to evacuations, loss of life, and extensive damage to property. Academic institutions located in affected areas may be unable to operate normally, or at all, during the current academic term. As a result of a natural disaster, students and scholars may also experience difficulty in satisfying the normal regulatory requirements for maintaining valid status, including reporting requirements and the pursuit of a “full course of study.” The following resources can help institutions, students, and scholars affected by such emergencies and natural disasters.
General Resources
- NAFSA
- Responding to a Natural Disaster in a Student's/Scholar's institution within the U.S. - By the NAFSA KC ISSS Crisis Management Subcommittee
- NAFSA Explanation of the USCIS Special Situations Page
- SEVP: The Student and Exchange Visitor Program
- Campus Resilience at SEVP-certified Schools
- Maintain F and M Status in Emergency Events
- SEVP Broadcast Message 1806-02: Emergency Preparedness: Are You and Your Students Ready? (2018)
- SEVP Blog - Preparing Your School in Case of Emergency Events (2018)
- SEVP Blog: Preparing Your Students in Case of Emergency Events (2018)
- SEVP Infographic: Emergency Resources: Prepare and Stay Safe (2022)
- SEVP Message - Students: Prepare for Emergencies During Hurricane Season
- General SEVIS Reporting Requirements for Designated School Officials
- Maintaining Student Status when an SEVP-Certified School Closes (73kb
)
- USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- ICE and CBP: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection
- OFLC: The DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification
- Hurricane Ian Disaster Guidance (2022). OFLC guidance regarding reasonable case accommodations in light of the damage done by Hurricane Ian.
- General Federal Government Resources
- Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education (2018)
- IRS: Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
- DHS’s emergency preparedness, continuity planning and training information: https://www.ready.gov.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Management Institute offers additional resources and training at https://www.fema.gov/training.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information and resources, regarding emergency preparedness and response, online at http://emergency.cdc.gov/.
- Be Prepared, Build a Kit.
- Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.
- Explore Ready.gov’s Campus Ready resources.
- Follow FEMA’s popular accounts on social media.
- Other Resources:
- Immigrants and Disaster Assistance - By the National Immigration Law Center (NILC)
- Helping Children After a Natural Disaster - WETA Public Broadcasting