On Sept. 3, several schools in metro Detroit had to close due to power outages caused by extreme weather. Roughly 280,000 residents were left without power following the storm. Tornado warnings were issued for Wayne, Macomb, Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Henry Ford College had students take shelter until the weather service lifted its tornado warning.

For Henry Ford College students, extreme weather such as power outages can lead to loss of access to the Internet and inability to complete assignments that require the use of a computer or digital device. Many classes that are held on campus require that assignments be turned in online.

Beyond the direct impact power outages can have on students’ ability to complete assignments on time, a family can lose access to a week’s supply of food due to their refrigerator not being powered, and that food shortage, even temporary, can impact students.

Extreme weather can also impact transportation and the ability of students to get to on-campus classes. Traffic lights being out, roads flooding, trees falling can all impact the ability to make it to campus on top of the normal challenges for many students, some of whom may rely on public transportation or Uber.

Many students have elderly in their households that they help care for. On the Fourth of July weekend this year, 325,000 people throughout Southeast Michigan were without power and facing 90-degree heat. Though these conditions are dangerous for most people, the elderly are the most at risk. This is partly physiological: bodily thermoregulation weakens as we age, causing the body to overheat much faster. Additionally, many senior citizens rely on medications that require refrigeration or strict room temperature. The threat is greater for those who depend on medical equipment–such as breathing machines–to stay healthy.

The September storm was not an isolated incident but part of an increasing pattern of extreme weather changes. Last year in October, temperatures reached as high as 87 degrees Fahrenheit on Oct. 4. Temperatures gradually fell, settling at a high of 55 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the month. However, from mid-October to the last third of the month had a fair amount of rain.

This October, based on history and trends, we can definitely expect more weather incidents. Whether it’s a power outage or a major shutdown, instructors should keep in mind the impact the weather can have on students.