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Duke Weathers Major Ice Storm
While an ice storm on
December 4 wiped out power to most of the Triangle, Duke managed
to keep campus life relatively normal--though it did cancel classes
for one day. Since the university has an underground power grid,
the campus did not lose electricity or heat when the storm hit,
says Glenn Reynolds, associate director of systems and engineering
services for Duke's Facilities Management Department.
Campus residence halls were unaffected by the icy weather, says
Larry Moneta, vice president of Student Affairs; Eddie Hull, director
of Residence Life and Housing Services says that "all services
were available to our students and we're very happy to be able
to say that given the weather conditions."
Student Affairs administrators closely monitored the situation
for students who live in off-campus apartments and houses, where
much of the community remained without electricity, Moneta says.
The office was in touch with those students, working to determine
how best to serve their needs.
Many in the community took advantage of the dining facilities on
campus, generating record sales, says Jim Wulforst, director of
Dining Services. "Anybody who wants to come in from the greater
Durham community is welcome to dine with us," he stated during
the crisis. Dining Services also coordinated with the city to feed
Durham city employees and the Durham police officers on campus. "This
was something we were happy to work out," he says. Duke also
provided hot food to scores of road-crew members.
A long-standing procedure for handling severe weather--including
a pick-up and drop-off service for dining-service employees--enabled
Wulforst and his staff to keep nearly all operations open. In addition,
most of the vendors who deliver food to students' rooms were operating,
and the three campus grocery stores remained open.
The Intramural Building on West Campus was opened to provide shelter
to Durham residents with special needs. Dining Services' director
Wulforst personally lugged bagels, deli sandwiches, pizzas, and
a variety of hot foods, as well as bottled water, soft drinks,
and coffee to the building. Sue Coon, dean of student activities,
sent over televisions to help break the monotony. John Burness,
senior vice president for public affairs and government relations,
remained at the site much of the time. Susan Epstein and Lloyd
Michener of Community and Family Medicine recruited volunteers
from their department, as well as the Physician Assistant Program,
the nursing school, and the medical school, to aid the nurses sent
by the county and the Emergency Medical Services. Physician Kathy
Andolsek spent the night at the makeshift shelter.
Some outlying buildings not on the grid were without power. Generators
provided power at the Primate Center, a research facility located
on the perimeter of campus.
The news was not good at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, which had to
be closed for nearly a week. "This is the worst damage we've
ever seen," says Greg Nace, associate director of horticulture
for the gardens. "It's worse than Hurricane Fran. It's the
worst ice storm anyone here has ever experienced. We've seen damage
in the gardens before, but nothing on this scale." Gardens
officials closed the facility after the first night of the storm
because of the danger posed by ice-laden trees and limbs that continued
to crash down for several days due to thawing and freezing cycles.
Four crews worked for weeks cutting down trees and clearing dangerous
limbs and toppled oaks on the pathways and in the forested areas.
By mid-January, three crews were working, with about 90 percent
of the clearing completed, says Nace. Damages cost approximately
$100,000, he says.
Walking trails through Duke Forest were closed for more than a
month while potentially hazardous debris was removed.
www.dukenews.duke.edu/icestorm/index.html
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