Blackboard Connect™
& Lamar University
Emergency Preparedness Before, During, and After the Storm
Located just 40 miles from the Gulf Coast, Lamar University (Beaumont, TX) was
devastated by the impact of Hurricane Rita in September 2005. When Hurricane
Humberto threatened the campus two years later, LU officials relied on the multimodal
Blackboard Connect notification service to keep its community informed with reliable,
up-to-date information. The study below illustrates why Lamar University officials call
Blackboard Connect “the center of our campus communication plan.”
Problem: Hurricane Threat Disrupts Campus Operations
One of the largest and most “Had we had the [Blackboard
destructive Atlantic hurricanes
Connect] service during this period,
ever recorded, Rita caused $11.3
our communication with faculty,
billion in damage on the U.S.
students and parents would have
Gulf Coast and damaged 80% of
been greatly enhanced during
the 155 buildings on the Lamar
the recovery,” recalled Michael
University campus.
Dobe, Associate Vice President
The LU campus was consequently
and Chief Information Officer of
closed from September 24 until
Lamar University.
October 19, 2005. Despite the
disruption, all courses were
completed through a revised
schedule, and commencement
was held on December 19 for
winter graduates.
Wh e n H u r r i c a n e H u m b e r to
developed in the northwestern
Gulf of Mexico on September 12,
2007, it intensified faster than any
tropical cyclone on record.
In the wake of Hurricane Rita, LU
Humberto struck Southeast Texas
officials recognized the imperative
early on September 13 with heavy
for a dependable communication
rainfall, intense thunderstorms, and
system that would enable them
winds approaching 90 mph. This
to keep their campus community
time, however, Lamar University’s
informed at all times, from any
emergency preparedness plan
location, in all situations.
included Blackboard Connect.
Above: Hurricane Rita brought extensive
damage to the Lamar University campus
in 2005.
Below: Hurricane Humberto makes landfall
at High Island, Texas, 38 miles from the
Lamar campus, September 13, 2007.
Solution: Blackboard Connect
The multimodal Blackboard Connect alert and
notification service is designed — not only to
augment emergency preparedness and enhance
safety — but also to facilitate campus connections
through improved communication.
During Hurricane Rita, mandatory evacuations
were required for the entirety of Southeast
Texas. At that time, Lamar University had only
With [Blackboard Connect],
we were able to push
information to people and
keep them informed during
Hurricane Humberto. We
were able to keep people
informed before, during, and
after the storm.
limited means of reaching their campus community
with critical information.
With widespread damage from Hurricane Rita — including loss of power and saturated electrical
Michael Dobe
Assoc. Vice President and CIO
Lamar University, Beaumont, TX
equipment—Lamar officials were forced to post
messages to an emergency website in an effort to
reach some percentage of their constituents. Only
During urgent situations, it is critical to notify
those who had web access at their evacuation
people at multiple points of contact to increase
location could obtain the emergency information. By
the likelihood of reaching them with necessary
contrast, the Connect platform delivers information
information. Equally important is the need to
via multiple channels quickly and reliably.
provide ongoing updates.
When Humberto struck, Lamar University officials
To meet these needs, the Connect platform
were better prepared to respond.
provides quick, reliable notification via voice,
“With Blackboard Connect, we were able to push
information to people and keep them informed
during Hurricane Humberto” said Dobe. “We were
able to keep people informed before, during, and
after the storm.”
e-mail, SMS text messaging, and networked digital
signage — enhancing communication beyond
emergency notification to help keep people informed
while assisting a return to normal operations.
A SaaS (Software as a Service) solution, Blackboard
Connect assures continuity in the event of a
Result: Communication and Safety
Maintained
Lamar University closed for three days due to
damage caused by Hurricane Humberto. During
this time, University officials kept their campus
local disruption. And because the service offers
unlimited use for one, predictable flat rate, it can
be used as often as needed with no additional
charges — an important distinction when unforeseen
events happen.
community informed using Blackboard Connect.
According to John Genuardi, LU’s Interim Director
After three days, the campus was reopened,
of Customer Support Services, “The [Blackboard
and regularly scheduled classes and events
Connect] system significantly augments the
were resumed.
emergency preparedness for Lamar University and
our sister campuses.”
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