Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, students across USC have embraced cautious optimism as Hurricane Irma makes its way northward.
Forecast models have South Carolina dodging Irma's metaphorical bullet, though Columbia is still expected to face tropical storm force winds, and the state's barrier islands have been evacuated due to the threat of coastal flooding.
Indeed, upperclassmen such as third-year public health student Katherine Farrell know all too well how lucky Columbia is this time around.
"I don't think it's gonna hit us very bad. I know that the places it does hit hard, it's going be pretty catastrophic, but I think we're gonna be fine," she said. "I definitely appreciate the extra precautions [the university] is taking. Better safe than sorry I always say."
Even first-year students like environmental science student Madison Misell have heard the stories and were glad to see the storm's path shift further and further away.
"I asked a couple of people [about previous years' weather] because I'm over in Green Quad, right at the bottom of a hill, so we were wondering, 'Oh, do we need to leave, are we going to be drowning in our own rooms?'" she said. "But they just gave us some prep stuff."
Farrell, a U101 peer leader, tried to be a resource for her students throughout the storm's threat.
"We're kind of going over the normal, annual weather precautions," she said, "just stocking up on water, making sure you have gas in your car, just that sort of thing."
As a Charleston native, Misell still has the coastal threat on her mind and even had a friend from home stay with her for the weekend.
Though much of the Palmetto State will be spared the worst of Irma, Florida is facing the likes of which they haven't seen in many years. For those with loved ones still in the storm's path, the anxiety remains.
First-year fashion merchandising student Elizabeth Kelly was "excited" to get a long weekend out of the storm, but is still worried for her boyfriend, who lives in Florida. Fellow first-year fashion merchandising student Emily Jones and first-year public relations student Blair Roughen, both Georgia natives, also expressed worry about the effects of the storm on their home state.
Just as in previous years, the Carolina and Columbia communities plan to exercise their charitable side after the storm. Cory Alpert, who organized USC Relief as a student and now works on similar efforts within the Columbia Mayor's Office, says plans aren't "fully formed yet" but will eventually be put in motion.
"Our first priority is for SC, so we have to wait until we know if anyone in SC will be affected," he said. "We're in touch with Mayors and city council officials in Florida about what their needs will be, and once we have a clear picture, we'll start collecting donations."