​Omani students in US asked to evacuate as Hurricane Florence gets closer

Energy Wednesday 12/September/2018 10:32 AM
By: Times News Service
​Omani students in US asked to evacuate as Hurricane Florence gets closer

Muscat: Omani students studying in universities where Hurricane Florence is set to hit, have been asked to evacuate by the Sultanate’s Cultural Attaché in Washington.

According to the Ministry of Higher Education, the embassy has been coordinating with the Omani Cultural Attaché in Washington on updates regarding the students’ situation

In a statement online, the Ministry said: "Dr. Talal Al Baloushi, the cultural attaché in Washington, has informed us that 115 university students have been contacted and told to evacuate.

"Many of them began evacuating yesterday and today according to the climatic conditions we will communicate with other areas and states," Al Balushi added.

A letter has been sent out to Omani students at the University of South Carolina, Northern Carolina State University, University of North Carolina Greensboro and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

The letter stated, “All university graduates should leave as soon as the universities close its doors. The attaché would prefer it if students travel to safer, nearby states in the south such as Florida, as the hurricane will be moving in the northern and central direction.

"The attaché will also like to inform you that it will compensate the student's cost of evacuation such as: renting a car, domestic tickets, hotel stay, and restaurants.

"The attaché will cover the expenses [occurred] during 11 and 16 September 2018, please keep all the receipts that are related to the travel outside the affected area."