The Trail

Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: News

A massive tree in front of McIntyre is ripped out the group by the storm

The windstorm that tore across the Pacific Northwest on Dec. 14 has caused an estimated $700,000 worth of damage to the UPS campus.

The biggest expense resulted from the water damage done to Collins Memorial Library. Around 11 p.m. on Dec. 14, high winds uprooted a tree in the arboretum, which broke a main water line, causing water to run for almost two hours before Facilities Services personnel could properly shut it off with the power being out.

Water poured into the west window wells of the basement study carrels and ran all the way to the opposite side of the building, creating a six to ten inch puddle of water throughout the entire basement floor.

It has cost the university approximately $110,000 to clean up the water, $52,000 to repair the mechanics of the library's elevator and $250,000 to reconstruct and restore the library.

Drying out the flood and removing the damaged materials created a monumental task. Many of the walls of the library basement had to be gutted to dry them out and then redone.

Water leaked into the bottom of the elevator and ruined electrical components. Also, a mason has to replace the stone eave on the west wall of the library that got blown off.

The damage to the library could have been worse had it not been for the efforts of university staff and students. Brenda Seaworth, the Academic Custodial Supervisor of Facilities Services, extracted 1200 gallons of water from the basement floor, which allowed the carpet to properly dry out, preventing it from needing replacement.

Furthermore, night library supervisor Nancy Sullivan, the nighttime custodial crew, and students studying in the library for their Friday finals also took immediate action to lessen the damage. They trudged through the dark and cold water to pick books and computers off of the library floor, salvaging them from the flood.

As a result, the university lost only $12,000 worth of computer technology and about 137 library books. Facilities Services leaders are grateful for students' help at this critical time.

"It was heroic," said Jay Becker, interim director of Facilities Services. "Their quick thinking was just awesome."

James Vance, manager of Custodial Services, Set-Ups and Moves and Grounds, agrees.

Continued...

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