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As the Front Range faced two powerful wind events from Dec. 17 to 20, 2025, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder coordinated action to protect the campus community and its infrastructure. With gusts peaking between 80 and 113 miles per hour, the university’s proactive administrative closures and rapid emergency response helped reduce the risk of serious injury and mitigated impacts to critical research operations.��

“I am deeply grateful to the �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder staff members who worked through dangerous conditions to keep our campus safe and operational,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “Their preparation and coordination protected people, preserved critical research and reflected the dedication our staff bring to this campus every day. I also want to thank our students, faculty and staff for their flexibility as operations were adjusted ahead of the holiday break to prioritize safety.”

A strategy of preparation

Preparation began days before the first gusts hit. Following forecasts of extreme winds and elevated fire danger, campus leaders and operational teams conducted briefings on anticipated conditions, potential power-loss scenarios and secondary risks, including elevated fire danger and infrastructure impacts. Units coordinated through the Emergency Management Policy Group (EMPG) and the Incident Management Team (IMT), with teams across public safety, facilities and IT aligning closely with city, county and utility partners to prepare for worst-case scenarios, including widespread power loss and airborne debris.

"Our decisions were guided by a single priority: keeping people safe," said Jack Briggs, associate vice chancellor for public safety operations. "Closing campus reduced the number of people exposed to risk and allowed our teams to focus on monitoring conditions and securing hazards."

As high winds arrived Dec. 17, the university implemented a series of proactive operational adjustments to reduce exposure to sudden and unpredictable hazards. These included an administrative closure on Dec. 17, a two-hour delayed start on Dec. 18 and a second administrative closure on Dec. 19. Decisions were guided by National Weather Service forecasts and red flag warnings and coordinated planning among campus leadership, the Joint Information Center (JIC), �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Police and Public Safety, Infrastructure and Resilience and local emergency partners.

Protecting critical systems and research

Ahead of the storm, teams across campus focused on protecting essential systems and operations, including:

• Verifying backup generator readiness for critical facilities
• Ensuring building security through access-control systems
• Prioritizing essential research activities and safeguarding sensitive materials
• Communicating through �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Alerts and the �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Safe app

Facilities Management, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Police and Public Safety, Housing and Dining, Emergency Management and the Office of Information Technology worked together to protect irreplaceable research and maintain continuity during power disruptions.

On the front lines

Throughout the wind events, essential employees worked under challenging conditions to protect the campus community and maintain critical operations. Their professionalism and rapid response were critical to identifying hazards and securing unsafe areas during a period of elevated risk.��

�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Police provided a strong on-the-ground presence, identifying hazards and supporting the coordinated campus response. Simultaneously, Facilities Management and Environmental Health and Safety focused on stabilization, dedicating their efforts to preparation and mitigating further damage following specific incidents while the campus remained closed.

The impact was visible across campus, particularly to trees and landscaping. Vincent Aquino, Facilities Management arboriculture supervisor, noted the intensity of the event.

“This was one of the most severe wind events I’ve experienced in almost 30 years on campus,” said Aquino. “When winds reach this level, even large, healthy trees can fail quickly and unpredictably. Having fewer people on campus significantly reduced the risk of serious injury.”

While most of Main Campus maintained power, the university managed a planned outage in the Grandview area and an unplanned disruption at Williams Village and parts of East Campus, ensuring residents, university operations and research were supported throughout the recovery.

Recovery and preparedness moving forward

Following the wind events, Facilities Management initiated damage assessments, including inspections of roofs, rooftop equipment and landscaping. Cleanup and repairs continued through winter break.��

�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder remains committed to preparedness, safety and clear communication during severe weather events and will continue coordinating with regional partners to guide future operational decisions. Campus community members are encouraged to monitor �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Alerts and download the���鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Safe app for timely updates.