TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — After Hurricane Helene brought strong wind and rain to Troy, the Pike County Emergency Management Agency is encouraging students and residents to pay attention to the forecast.

”Become weather aware,” advised Herbert Reeves, the Director of Pike County EMA. “Know that we have weather, have a means for notification, weather its a radio, or on your phone, or whatever it may be.”

Reeves says that when it comes to severe weather, preparedness is key.

”Put together a little emergency kit, have a flashlight, make sure things are charged up.”

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Reeves also encouraged students to take advantage of on-campus areas that remain open during severe weather.

“We do have a couple shelters on campus like Rushing Hall. We open the Trojan Center for students because its a little bit of an older building that was build with steel and concrete.”

Finally, Reeves urged students to let someone know where you are in the event of severe weather, especially if you live on-campus.

”If you are going off campus to stay with someone than let somebody know that you’re not going to be in the residence hall. When we start trying to account for everybody we know that this particular student is staying with a friend.”

Reeves also says that if storms cause damage to the university, school leaders work closely with the city to restore campus as soon as possible.