Iowa City and the University of Iowa are cleaning up debris after a derecho storm swept through eastern Iowa on Monday, Aug. 10, bringing 100 mph winds. The UI campus was no exception, and damages are still being assessed.
A few campus buildings saw damage, including Main Library, University Services Building, the Water Plant, and the greenhouse at Biology Building East. The UI electrical system did not lose power, and the few campus buildings that lost power were those supplied by outside providers.
Tree damage on campus was less extensive than the rest of Iowa City. The UI’s regular tree maintenance and its ash tree removal program (due to the emerald ash borer) provided an advantage as many of the campus’ weakest trees already had been removed. All tree branches and debris are being recycled into mulch, which will be used in landscaping.
Perhaps the biggest disruption due to Monday’s storm was the widespread loss of electricity and internet and cell phone service to the UI’s hundreds of faculty and staff currently working remotely due to COVID-19.
UI employees who continue to experience loss of power and internet at their homes can use any of the UI’s drive-up WiFi locations that were established due to COVID-19:
- Library Lot 3
- Hancher South Lot (Lot 55)
- Hawkeye Commuter Lot (Lot 85) and Hawkeye Storage (Lot 39)
- Myrtle Avenue Lot (Lot 48)
- Oakdale Lots and Multi-Tenant Facility
- Biomedical Research Support Facility
Thank you to the staff in Facilities Management and others across campus for their quick response after Monday’s storm. Your commitment to protecting and repairing the UI campus is appreciated.
