HURRICANE SPECIAL 7,'.\i \ '//< 7K '< - //'/• Hlfill 11 111 ll III' I / >• •< Ih .ill. >ll September 4,1998 Bonnie Leaves Town Quietly

After Hurricane Fran left Wilmington two years ogo, most Wilmington residents and UNCW students were ready for Bonnie Despite preparation for another storm of Fran's caliber. Bonnie, while sti a dangerous and frightening event, left Wilmington and the surrounding areas much quieter than its predecessor

Hurricane Bonnie stormed into nest on Monda). Aug. 24.as weather reports evening The university was swifl lo gel Ihe puters and electrical equipment were heing the Cape Fear area last Wcdncs showed Bonnie having great potcniial to hit word out. as fliers were posted, teachers jnd disconnected and covered with plastic sheet- da>. Aug. 26. forcing an evacu- the Wilmington area, and a Hurricane Watch staff were informed of the decision, and an ing or trash hags to protect them from w ind ation of the L'NCW campus as well as can- was posted from the Virginia/North Carolina announcement was posted on ihe university s and water damage Many dorm residents look cellation of classes and all University activi- hordcr south to Savannah. Georgia. Hurricane Hotline at I 1:24Tuesday morning. as many belongings w nh them as possible as lics for three and a half day s. The skiw-mov - By the morning of Tuesday. Aug 25. a All on-campus residents had lo either leave they Deed inland. ing. Level .' hurricane haltered the area for Hurricane Warning had hcen posted for this campus or go lo an emergency shelter sel up L'NCW freshman Melissa Bush wasn't almost 24 hours, with sustained winds of 115 area, meaning hurricane conditions were in the University Union. particularly bothered hy Bonnie, hut miles per hour, dumping as much as ill inches likely during the ncu 24 to M> hours. New Through.nil Tuesday mining and early nevcnhelcs she was watching the Weather of rain in some places Hanover count) officials issued a voluntary afternoon, almost every TV' in the Univer- Channel Tuesday afternoon in the Hawk's The University suffered minor damage evacuation of Wnghts\illc Beach ai 11 a.m sity I mon was tuned to the Weather Chan- Nest. as a result of the storm There were no inju- and a mandatory cvaction at 5 p.m. UNCW nel, and many students were keeping a con- "They re kind of scary, hut kind of ex- ries or deaths on campus. officials then set their own evacuation plan stant eye on the storm. Similarly, many oth- citing at the same lime ll really doesn't fa/c in motion, announcing that all classes after 3 ers wen: checking out hurricane related sues me thai much." she said, nothing thai she was p.m. would be cancelled and that all campus on the Internet lo keep labs on Bonnie in Ihe area in IW during both Hurricanes Preparations fc»r the storm hegan in ear- activities would cease as of 5 p.m. thai In many offices around campus, com- SM BONNIE, pag« 5