Bethune-Cookman University issues mandatory evacuation order ahead of Hurricane Irma

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman University has issued a mandatory evacuation order ahead of Hurricane Irma.

The university made the announcement Tuesday evening.

The order was effective starting at 5 p.m. for students.

All residence halls will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, the university said.

Faculty members will be expected to report to work for their regular schedule and then campus offices will close at 5 p.m.

"A return date for students, staff and faculty will be published once the hurricane has passed and it is safe to return to campus," the school said in a statement.

BCU student Dorothy Dortch was glad that the university decided to evacuate well ahead of the storm, but said the organization could have been better.

"The evacuation thing is very bad," she said. "Very bad, like, the planning, I think, is very bad."

Even if the evacuation wasn't going as smoothly as some would hope, BCU professor Dr. Danita Blow said making the decision early was the right thing to do.

"If you remember last year when Hurricane Matthew came, they were scrambling at the last minute trying to find out what to do," she said. "So, now, opposed to waiting until even Friday, we are now making sure that the students can make arrangements as early as today."

Cox Media Group