As the campus empties of USC students, its residence halls opened for those seeking refuge from Hurricane Matthew.
Buses arrived to Greene Street on Wednesday Oct. 5, 2016, carrying about 50 students from the College of Charleston who left their campus following Gov. Nikki Haley’s order for the evacuation of coastal residents. She called for Charleston and Beaufort counties to begin evacuating residents and visitors before 3 p.m. Wednesday, but the College of Charleston students were told they had to be out of dorms by 9 a.m.
For most, the decision to leave was a quick one. They signed up Tuesday evening for a spot on the bus, which they thought was heading to Clemson.
“We didn't find out it was going to be here until this morning at, like, 10," College of Charleston student Bree Lewis said.
They waited hours in Charleston Wednesday morning before getting onto the bus around 11:30 a.m. The trip that normally takes two hours took them almost four.
As the guests arrived, they were greeted by cheering Student Government leaders. "Our home is your home," the university tweeted.
They came single-file off the bus, most with a duffel bag or two. Some carried bulging trash bags. They were led into the Russell House Ballroom as a staging ground and gathered around the edges of the room with small piles of possessions, awaiting direction.
Lewis, Laura Cergol, Ashley De Peri, Mary Watkins and Annika Liger stood in a circle. All seniors, they’ve been friends since freshman year. The past 24 hours had been a rush.
"Monday, all of our professors were like, 'Class might be canceled Friday," Watkins said. "And then Tuesday ... all hell broke loose."
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