Lacking Communication

During the recent winter storm in Northeast Georgia, very little was done attempting to get in touch with the students, and even the faculty, giving those who find the college home for the majority of the day some sort of piece-of-mind.
A personal experience I have been in with another college (roughly the same size as Piedmont) proves that communication between students/faculty and administration can, in fact, be done. Upon entering Thomas More College in Kentucky, it is required that the student give a telephone number (preferably a cell) for contact upon the case of an emergency. The acquiring of a cell phone number allows the college to potentially be in constant contact with the student through a direct line. This plan proved to be useful when a county-wide tornado warning/watch was issued, at which point the student received a text message reporting the condition in the area and the steps to take for safety. Although a “simple” winter storm may not be as important as a tornado (bringing death and destruction), it can calm a worried mind and allow a person a sense of control over any situation. Although, in a place where ¼ inch of snow could be extremely hazardous, the two “disasters” could possibly be considered equal in size. In giving Piedmont the benefit of the doubt, assuming that the cell phone numbers of the residents were collected, but have they been used? In the one situation where this procedure could have been applied, no messages were received nor were television/radio stations contacted.
This problem could be fixed by cooperation with the local television and radio stations, and an updated website telling the current conditions of the school. Students would be satisfied with a simple message of “Piedmont College is still debating whether or not classes will be cancelled” or even “Piedmont College is confused at the moment.” After a “buying-time” message, a deadline should be set, a reasonable time, allowing students to sleep with a sound state-of-mind and a happy, well-informed heart.