The Marvin Center will act as an emergency shelter if Hurricane Irene critically damages residence halls.

The University will also lock down all rooftop terraces and balconies, Senior Associate Vice President for Safety and Security Darrell Darnell said, and is inspecting back-up generators across both campuses to ensure they are fueled and running properly.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch warning for the D.C. area. Nearby Arlington, Va. declared a state of local emergency at about 3:45 p.m.

GW’s Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the storm’s trajectory along with a representative from the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, he said. University Police Department officers are also on guard, along with staffers from the Office of Safety and Security.

Darnell added that his office met with the Georgetown waterfront’s management to verify that the area’s flood wall was raised to prepare for heavy rains. In April, the Potomac River flooded the waterfront, damaging lines that feed power to Ross Hall.

Generators will power fire alarms, emergency lights and one elevator per building throughout the storm, according to a campus advisory issued Friday morning. The alert also warned students to stay away from windows and take cover under sturdy objects in the event of dangerously high winds.

On-campus dining venues will remain open according to their normal hours, Nancy Haaga, director of GW’s Campus Support Services, said. The new Metro Diner and The Coffee Stop at J Street are open from noon to midnight on weekends.

“We are stocked with food and are prepared to feed students in the event that we lose electrical power at either campus,” she said.

GW canceled all outdoor events slated for Sunday and offered today as an early move-in day for students, bracing for Irene’s strike.