2008 Woodie Awards
Floodwater shuts down U. Iowa campus
'We're racing against time, water' as three more feet expected
Alyssa Cashman
Issue date: 6/17/08 Section: Special Section
IOWA CITY, Iowa (U-WIRE) - Only the tops of parking meters are visible in the muck. The sandbag wall, which volunteers spent countless days erecting, has been breached in many places. A fine layer of water on the ground floor of Mayflower has developed.
The North Dubuque Street residence hall is taking on water. A walkway extends from the Cliff Apartments directly north of the dorm over the flooded parking lots to Mayflower's side door.
On central campus, notices taped to the doors of the Adler Journalism Building and the Becker Communications Studies Building warned people to stay out or face trespassing charges.
As the Iowa River sped by with a quickened current, the muddy waters continued to affect nearly every aspect of the University of Iowa.
"We're racing against time and water," said Don Guckert, UI associate vice president for Facilities Management.
At the UI Main Library, book after book with yellow-edged pages were handled cautiously as volunteers moved them from the basement. Over 100 of the volunteers formed a line, passing the volumes from person to person. They were hoping to save all the books in the basement by moving them to higher floors.
Outside, people helped to sandbag around Madison Street as occupants emptied numerous buildings. Meanwhile, officials reported that summer classes will be suspended until June 22 as professors were ordered out of all campus buildings within a couple blocks of the river.
More and more services went offline on Friday as Student Health Services and the Admissions Office closed their doors for the next week. Hours at UI QuickCare centers were also altered, which could limit many students' access to health services as the flooding continues.
At the UI Hospitals and Clinics, health services were limited to only those who needed "essential care," according to a statement released Friday afternoon. Officials are continuing to explore ways to make sure physicians are able to make it to work.
The North Dubuque Street residence hall is taking on water. A walkway extends from the Cliff Apartments directly north of the dorm over the flooded parking lots to Mayflower's side door.
On central campus, notices taped to the doors of the Adler Journalism Building and the Becker Communications Studies Building warned people to stay out or face trespassing charges.
As the Iowa River sped by with a quickened current, the muddy waters continued to affect nearly every aspect of the University of Iowa.
"We're racing against time and water," said Don Guckert, UI associate vice president for Facilities Management.
At the UI Main Library, book after book with yellow-edged pages were handled cautiously as volunteers moved them from the basement. Over 100 of the volunteers formed a line, passing the volumes from person to person. They were hoping to save all the books in the basement by moving them to higher floors.
Outside, people helped to sandbag around Madison Street as occupants emptied numerous buildings. Meanwhile, officials reported that summer classes will be suspended until June 22 as professors were ordered out of all campus buildings within a couple blocks of the river.
More and more services went offline on Friday as Student Health Services and the Admissions Office closed their doors for the next week. Hours at UI QuickCare centers were also altered, which could limit many students' access to health services as the flooding continues.
At the UI Hospitals and Clinics, health services were limited to only those who needed "essential care," according to a statement released Friday afternoon. Officials are continuing to explore ways to make sure physicians are able to make it to work.
Be the first to comment on this story