From this October 13th-18th, the UNCW Department of Health and Safety will initiate a hurricane preparedness drill with an hypothetical Category 5 hurricane dubbed “Hurricane Zephyr.” If you are not able to participate in the Hurricane Zephyr drill, do not fear. You can still learn how to prepare for an incoming hurricane if it ever happens. The cast of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” will be helping out with some of the points made here in this blog.

DO: Try And Leave The Area

The safest and smartest thing to do would be to leave town all together. This keeps you and those that are close to you away from any serious damage a hurricane could inflict. Prepare evacuation routes and have places you can stay at if you leave your home for safety.

DON’T: Stay And Throw A “Hurricane Party”

Do not stick around town just to throw a hurricane themed party at your place. Inviting a bunch of people over means your food, supplies, and whatever else is going to used up extremely quickly.

DO: Buy Necessary Food and Supplies

If you are unable to leave and plan to endure the incoming hurricane, restocking on food and other supplies is crucial. This includes bottled water, batteries, medical kits, duct tape, blankets, and matches to name a few. Having “awesome gear and an awesome hatchet” does not make your prepared to take on any storm.

DON’T: Turn “Surviving” Into “Looting”

During a crisis there can be a fine line between “surviving” and “looting.” Get and buy what you can that’s important to your health and survival. Don’t run off and steal flat screen TVs and electronics in the middle of the mayhem. Walking into a store with the intent to buy a loaf of bread and then running out with ski equipment is a big no.

If you plan ahead and be smart, you can correctly combat a hurricane and the damage it brings. To recap: try and evacuate, do not stay and throw a party. Get the important supplies that will make any place you stay at during the storm safe and livable; don’t take advantage of a frenzy and go on a shoplifting spree. If you have a bunker or a shelter, make sure it is stocked up ahead of time to avoid crowds of people that are desperate for supplies at the last minute.

-Ethan Schneier

1. Visit Beautiful Airlie Gardens

There is perhaps no better way to spend a beautiful day in Wilmington than to explore Airlie Gardens. The site has over 67 acres of walking paths that will allow you to view a myriad of beautiful trees, flowers, and architecture during your exploration. There is also much to learn during your journey through the gardens, as the rich history of the site is provided to you through pamphlets, tour guides, and informational signs next to significant landmarks. Whether you are taking a tour, having a photo shoot, or just having a nice stroll, Airlie Gardens will give you a great breath of fresh air while simultaneously taking your breath away with its true beauty.

2. Take a Ghost Tour of Downtown Wilmington

Prepare to be spooked with history! Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington offers a journey through all of Wilmington’s eerie tales for those brave enough to take the tour. For 90 minutes, you and your friends will be taken through some of Wilmington’s most notable burial grounds, haunted houses, and sites of actual encounters during past tours. Skeptical about the authenticity of the spookiness? No need! USA Today places it in the “Top 5 Ghost Walks in America” as well as Encore Magazine calling it the “Best Tour.” For those seeking thrilling and frightful adventures, it is a must.

3. Tour Battleship USS North Carolina

While we’re still talking about tours, the Battleship is a staple for Wilmington. The Battleship USS North Carolina is proudly displayed in a waterway right in the heart of Wilmington. It is easily visible from downtown, and creates a visual masterpiece as the sun goes down behind it. It’s not just there to be looked at and admired, though. There are regular tours provided for the historic warship. You can have a tour guide, or explore the decks yourself! No matter the age, it is a must for anyone who wants to feed their adventurous side while also learning a great deal of history.

4. Sing Your Heart Out at Karaoke

If there is one thing that the downtown Wilmington community loves, it is to sing. To capitalize on this passion, bar owners across downtown Wilmington have implemented a karaoke night once a week. It just so happens that they all occur on different nights of the week, so on any given night (currently Wednesday through Sunday) one could pick up and go sing karaoke at any of these bars. These bars are also keeping the legacy of the recently closed Brown Coat Pub and Theatre alive. Once home to Wilmington’s favorite karaoke, it now inspires other bars to put on karaoke such as Liquid Room (Wednesday’s), Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (Thursday’s), Reel Café (Friday’s and Saturday’s), and Calico Room (Sunday’s). If singing is your thing, make sure to visit one of these places to show your stuff.

5. Find Some Live Music Downtown

In addition to the casual karaoke singers, Wilmington is a hot-spot for those who sing and perform music professionally. If you walk through downtown Wilmington, you will almost undoubtedly hear live music from any direction. These musicians are welcomed in restaurants, bars, and even street corners. The range of styles from these performers is quite incredible as well. Whether they are a smooth jazz artist, gospel singer, or head-thrashing rocker, they will be welcome in Wilmington. It is always an incredible experience to stumble upon any of these performers while strolling through downtown Wilmington, so be on the lookout next time you’re downtown!

6. View a Theatrical Spectacle

Wilmington has a rich pool of talent when it comes to community theatre. Whether you’re looking for a musical extravaganza or a thought provoking drama, there is always a company producing a show that will satisfy your wants. Wilmington is home to the Thalian Association, the Official Community Theatre of North Carolina, along with several other companies that go all out to bring you the best form of pure, live entertainment.

7. Go to the Beach!!!

It’s one of the main reasons students pick the Dub over other colleges. Everybody loves to catch rays and splash around, so why not go to a school where you can do it all the time? There’s something special about living in a place where other people come to vacation. Why not catch some beach time in between classes? It may very well be the stress reliever you need.

-Ty Myatt

A category 5 storm is headed for Wilmington (well, not really, but we are acting like one is) and how prepared is UNCW? When students choose to come to UNCW the thought of a major storm hitting Wilmington is probably at the back of their minds. In reality, this is something that UNCW and all of Wilmington should be prepared for.

For the past two months, the COM 431 IMC II class has been helping prepare for Hurricane Zephyr. Zephyr is a full scale category five hurricane exercise where UNCW is working with FEMA and other schools to put a plan in place for what would have to happen for a university to mandate a full-scale evacuation.

The following are just some of the aspects that have gone into planning for Zephyr:

1. Organization

Organization is important in an event of this magnitude because a university cannot just be evacuated without a plan in place. It is important that every detail of the operation be worked out and talked through before execution. The UNCW Emergency Management Team has been hard at work to make sure that every piece of this event has been organized for optimal success.

2. Time

Chronemics, the “study of time and focuses on the concepts and processes of how people manage their formal and informal obligations in relation to time.” Time fits with organization as the time table must fit with the organized plan. Time has been a large focus of the Zephyr project because of the coordination of the students being mock evacuated and their schedule while on the trip. If this exercise were to be implemented for a real disaster, then time would be of the essence and crucial to the success of evacuating UNCW students.

 

3. Recruiting

Speaking of people going on the trip, this exercise would mean nothing if students were not actually being evacuated. This is something that our IMC II class has been working on the past couple of months. This exercise is important for UNCW, its students, faculty and other stakeholders, but also other universities that may be use this plan. After this trip, UNCW Emergency Management will have a better understanding of how to handle an evacuation because of using real students in the exercise.

4. Uncertainty

While we have been planning for Hurricane Zephyr for several months, we will not have that advantage in a real-life category five hurricane situation. This exercise will help UNCW better market themselves to current and future students and their families as well as community members as being one of few universities that are this prepared for a major storm. This exercise will be important to reducing uncertainty in a crisis situation.

5. Crisis Management

By reducing uncertainty, UNCW and the community can be assured that UNCW will know how to handle a crisis situation. Knowing that this plan is in place and that it has been practiced instills the confidence in preparedness. Thought there will still be panic and fear involved, there will be a sense of comfort knowing that this plan of Hurricane Zephyr is prepared specifically for an event like a natural disaster.

Though much more than just these five factors go into planning an event like Hurricane Zephyr, these five are crucial to the success of the event. Rest easy knowing that UNCW is going to be prepared in the event of a major hurricane hitting Wilmington.

-Ashby Burton

1. Have a photo shoot at Airlie Gardens.
   

   Known for its beauty, Airlie Gardens is a popular spot for tourists and locals to wander on a sunny day. Its various walking paths, gardens, and nature life creates the perfect backdrop for a fun photo shoot with friends or a significant other. There is even a butterfly house set up to interact with some precious wildlife!

2. Go on a One Tree Hill Tour.
   

   “Wilmywood” was given that name because of the multitude of television shows and movies filmed in the beach town. One of the more popular TV dramas filmed here was One Tree Hill, and fans love hitting all the filming locations on a self-guided tour. There are even OTH conventions that happen every year at which you can pay to attend and meet the stars! Even though the show ended in 2012, fans still watch the show on repeat and travel to take pictures at the famous bridge and re-enact the “Don’t say I never gave you anything” scene at the Naley table.

3. Take a stroll on the beach to one of the famous mailboxes.

   On Wrightsville Beach, there are a few special mailboxes that people walk for miles to reach. In these mailboxes, there are journals that people write in for others to read later. They can write anything from their thoughts to love letters to excerpts from their lives. These mailboxes are located on the north end, just past Shell Island Resort.

4. Attend one of the many festivals.
   

   Downtown Wilmington is a popular venue for many different festivals throughout the year. They host the Azalea Festival, Riverfest, Oktoberfest, and many more. These festivals often feature fried foods, live music, local artists selling their creations, and are always a good time.

5. Tour the Battleship.
   

   Just across the river from with a perfect view of downtown, you can wander the famous Battleship North Carolina and learn all about its history. Some even say it’s haunted…

6. Dance the night away at the downtown sundown concert series.
   

   Every Friday during the summer, a tribute band plays an outdoor concert in the heart of downtown. Wear your favorite sundress, grab a scoop of Kilwin’s, and belt your heart out with hundreds of other Wilmingtonians at this weekly event!

7. Explore the Riverwalk and the many quaint shops downtown.
   

   Downtown Wilmington features lots of cute stores with One Tree Hill merch, Seahawk apparel, and more. Pass the time while waiting for dinner by hitting all the shops inside the Cotton Exchange as well as the stores along the riverfront.

8. Try out one of the various water sports at Wrightsville Beach.
   

   This beach town offers dozens of opportunities to get your feet wet and show off your adventurous side. From stand up paddle boarding to surfing to kayaking, the options are unlimited!

9. Go on a ghost tour in historic downtown.

   Experience the haunted homes and creepy ghost stories of Wilmington during an extensive ghost walk of the city. Be sure to take some pictures and you might just capture some spirit orbs!

10. Enjoy the famous Britt’s Donuts at Carolina Beach.

    These famous doughnuts instantly melt in your mouth and are completely worth the 30 minute drive. They were named 2nd best doughnuts in the nation by MSN City Guides. Still don’t believe me? Go try them for yourself!

    – Kelly Brown

1. Budget: Determine an appropriate budget for the circumstances. Within zephyr, you have to consider a budget for potentially 500 students. How much food will we need? What venues will we be using? What will activities/ entertainment cost for the simulation? Unfortunately, things will come up too. Whether you want it or not, flukes will happen so its important to include a bit more in your budget than expected in case you need that buffer.

2. Objectives: What exactly is this event and what do we hope to achieve in the end? What are some overall goals? Hurricane Zephyr is a simulated category 5 hurricane that gives students perspective as to what it’s like to be hit by a huge natural disaster and the impact it would have on campus. A few main aspects to be considered are evacuation plans, assessing the overall damage, and decision making in regards to overall operations on campus.

3. Target audience: Who do you want to be apart of this trip? How will you promote it? In regards to zephyr, the main target audience is students. As we discussed in class, students are more likely to participate in something involving incentives. For example, Dr. Persuit offered an exempt blog post for the first two people who decided to go on the trip, which intrigued some of us. Along with that, food and snacks will be covered during the event which is appealing to most.

4. Timing: What is the overall schedule? When planning an event as specific at the Zephyr exercise, it’s crucial to know what’s happening at each time of day to avoid any conflicts. If we were to be hit by a category 5 hurricane, we’d need to know what to do and in what manner to be able to evacuate safely.

5. Evaluation: Once your event has occurred, evaluate it and see what you did well and what you could improve on. Reach out to your target audience again and see if they have any feedback for the next event. Since Zephyr is such a huge event that has been planned for the past two years, it’s crucial to know what to change for next time. Maybe meet up with all of the participants and debrief- while they’re still present. Another idea would be a survey to see how the event played out from different perspectives.

 

-Allison Whitley

 

 

College can be full of stress, happiness, or sadness. Depending on what you are getting yourself into. I know one thing, it can be full of adventure. College is a great time to explore around our little beach town. You don’t need expensive flights to foreign countries to have these types of fun!

1. Surfing 

It’s only appropriate that this activity is at the top of our list. I mean, come on, our campus is shy of 6 miles from Wrightsville beach! We also have awesome surf shops that can provide for all of your beach going needs. Simply going to the beach and catching a tan can be boring. Spice it up with a little bit of fun!

2. Riverside Fun

The next place that should be in your bucket list runs along the Cape Fear River. The Historic Downtown of Wilmington offers many attractions from guided tours, live music, nightlife, and FOOD. Experience and see the different vibe that downtown has to offer.

http://www.visitnc.com

3. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 

The NC aquarium is not quite in Wilmington but it is within a drive-able distance. Definitely give this one a crack for you animal lovers. This aquarium does not only offers marine animals but also birds! They have Lorikeets in Lorkeet Land! Just imagine cute little colorful parrots.

4. USS North Carolina 

I got something special for you history admirers. If you feel like taking a stroll around our historic downtown isn’t enough. Then, get on board the USS North Carolina! This gargantuan of a vessel was one of the original ships used during the WWII

http://www.battleshipnc.com

5. Camping at Carolina Beach 

If you are looking for a time to finally relax from site seeing, I recommend getting a couple or few friends around a bonfire on the beach. Beach camping is one of the best activities that Carolina Beach can accommodate.

– Gilbert Niez

How do you know that fall is approaching? Without even needing to step outside to feel the cooler breeze, see the sun emitting a duller light, or see the leaves start to change, the marketplace screams fall at you from all angles. You can’t turn the TV on, go on the internet, browse social media, or be out in public without having the annual fall trends thrown in your face.

Fall to businesses looks like capitalizing on products that were successful last fall, trying new variations of these, and perhaps introducing a new fall-theme product in hopes to start a new trend.

 

 

One seasonal trend that has absolutely taken over the market from September until beginning of December every year is PUMPKIN SPICE. I, personally, hate anything pumpkin spice. But apparently everyone else loves it seeing as it returns with ferocity and high demand every year.

This was displayed to me (literally) the other day. I was walking into Harris Teeter and right when I busted through the doors, an isolated display shelf full of new pumpkin spice chips was right in front of me. Yes, chips. I won’t even get started on that one.

 

Fast forward to the refrigerated section. I go for some butter and see a section decked out in pumpkin spice cream cheese, coffee creamer, and cookie dough. Then, as I stroll up to the register an hour or so later (it takes time to find the deals), I see a table overflowing with pumpkin spice cookies, cupcakes, bread, and all the sweet treats that you could think of.

I was surrounded.

I felt targeted.

I felt suffocated.

I had to get out…

Now, that example is clearly overly dramatic, but I’m sure you can relate to feeling bombarded with excessive advertisements and marketing tactics at times. A lot of the time it is for something that you either love or hate because it makes it jump out at you THAT much more.

Now, I know that September is underway when I start to see and hear about pumpkin spice everything, but that is not what symbolizes fall to me.

Despite it getting darker earlier and the fact that after autumn comes winter, this time of year holds a special place in my heart. I grew up in New England where the fall transforms your world into the most colorful, beautiful, and peaceful place you’ll ever experience. Leaf piles, bonfires, flannels and oversized sweatshirts, and hikes through canopies of red, brown, orange, and gold-that’s what represents fall to me. Fall reminds me of carving pumpkins, going on the haunted hayride, and the continuous sound of the rustling of the dried-up leaves as the breeze swept through the trees.

Think about what comes to your mind when you think of this time of season.  Then think about what this time of season means to you. Are they two different things? Can you pinpoint whether any marketplace trends or advertising contribute to either of these?

It’s interesting to realize that your viewpoints and realities can be shaped by the messages that you don’t even know you are taking in. Whether we like it or not, we are surrounded.

-Daley Reynolds