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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Bruce Shubert, 785-532-6228, bshubert@k-state.edu; M. Duane Nellis, 785-532-6224, provost.nellis@k-state.edu; Mo Hosni, 785-532-5610, hosni@k-state.edu; Ron Trewyn, 785-532-5110, trewyn@k-state.edu; Pat Bosco, 785-532-6237, bosco@k-state.edu
Photos of storm damage: http://www.k-state.edu/news/2008/2008-06-12-photos/ and http://www.k-state.edu/media/stormphotos.html
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu

Friday, June 13, 2008

IN AFTERMATH OF STORM, K-STATE BUILDINGS PATCHED; PERMANENT REPAIRS BEGIN

MANHATTAN -- Making temporary repairs like patching roofs and boarding up windows to keep buildings weather-tight is a focus of efforts going on at Kansas State University following a tornado that hit campus Wednesday.

"Our immediate goal is to make repairs that will keep our buildings dry in case of rain and prevent further damage," said Bruce Shubert, associate vice president for administration and finance. "Our crews also are working hard to restore power and air conditioning to all campus buildings by Monday. Another priority is removing storm debris so pedestrians and traffic can safely move around campus."

"Work on the buildings most heavily damaged by the tornado is well underway, but it is necessary for the 18 classes that have been reassigned to temporary locations to continue to meet in the substitute spaces on Monday," said M. Duane Nellis, provost and senior vice president. "These classes are listed on the K-State home page. We will endeavor to return all classes to their originally assigned locations as soon as possible, and we will reassess the situation on Monday to ascertain which classrooms now under repair have been made safe and ready for classes to return to them. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding."

In addition, Nellis has asked Ron Trewyn, vice president for research, to begin the process of inventorying damage done to research equipment and laboratories.

K-State's Salina campus received more than $500,000 worth of damages from the June 11 storms. The majority of damage was from hail on roofs and vehicles across campus, as well as a small amount of wind damage.

Shubert said all K-State buildings will be habitable by the start of fall classes in August. Permanent repairs will begin immediately, Shubert said.

"We are going ahead with needed repairs to our buildings, and have consulted with federal, state and legislative leaders and have initiated the appropriate requests," Shubert said.

Some 26 buildings sustained damage. Buildings sustaining major damage include Weber, Waters, Durland/Rathbone/Fiedler, Call, Cardwell and Ward Halls. Bushnell Hall, which houses the herbarium and ecology research, also was damaged. After further investigation, it was determined that the Wind Erosion Lab suffered extensive damage, but was not destroyed, as had been reported earlier.

"Ward Hall, home of K-State's nuclear reactor, is secure," said Mo Hosni, head of K-State's department of mechanical and nuclear engineering. "The K-State Reactor Manager reported the tornado damage to the building to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission about 12:30 a.m. Thursday morning. The NRC dispatched one of its resident inspectors from Wolf Creek to K-State. He arrived at 6:30 a.m. and stayed until 9 p.m. Thursday. Today, two inspectors came from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission office in Washington, D.C., and are very pleased with the progress made in securing the reactor and the building. They have identified no areas of concern."

Pat Roberts Hall, home to K-State's Biosecurity Research Institute, was within an estimated quarter-mile of the tornado's path.

"The BRI continued to operate without interruption throughout the storm," said Ron Trewyn, vice president for research. "Because the institute is a high-level biocontainment facility, it is equipped with back up air handling, water and sewage systems, dual electrical feeds, as well as automated stand-by generator capacity to ensure that it continues to operate. Structurally, Pat Roberts Hall is built to withstand a severe tornado."

Pat Bosco, associate vice president and dean of student life, heard from the adviser of Sigma Alpha Epsilon about repairs to their fraternity house. "Charlie Hostetler, SAE adviser and local businessman, told me the SAE house will be back up and running this fall. Repairs begin next week."

The Kansas State University Foundation has begun a fund-raising program for those aspects of disaster recovery which are not covered by state and federal government to help pay for items such as equipment repair for research projects, educational supplies or labor needed for items not associated with capitol repairs or construction of replacement facilities.

UFM Community Learning Center is a drop off site for photos and other mementos that are found as a result of the June 11 tornado. A box is located in the UFM foyer at 1221 Thurston St. They have received hundreds of photos, children's drawings and other items found all over town. Many of the photos have been scanned and may be viewed via a link on the UFM Web site, http://www.tryufm.org