Follow the Timeline as Facilities Management Staff Clean Up After the Storm

Motor Pool facility is a total loss after a tornado ripped through Iowa City, Thursday, April 13 at 8:30 p.m. causing almost $6M in damage to the University.

Facilities Management staff and Peterson Contractors Inc. began the salvage and demolition of Motor Pool on Friday, April 14, just hours after the storm passed.

The Motor Pool facility was completely demolished and cleared by 2 p.m. Monday, April 17.

Motor Pool Facility Demolition Complete (Monday, April 17, 2:00 p.m.)

The Motor Pool facility was completely demolished and cleared by 2 p.m. Monday, April 17 following devastating tornado damage to the building Thursday, April 13. Workers completed the demolition leaving only the southeast corner, the power source for the gas pumps, intact. Jeff Harney, Design and Construction Services (DCS) Construction Manager said, "The exceptional cooperation and coordination from everyone involved helped this project to go as well as possible."

Motor Pool Facility Demolition In-Progress (Monday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.)

Motor Pool Facility Sustains Damage from Tornado 4/13	Motor Pool Facility Monday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

Motor Pool Facility staff and Peterson Contractors, Inc. (PCI) of Reinbeck, Iowa went to work early afternoon on Friday, April 14 to salvage tools, equipment, and mechanical fluids and begin careful demolition of the building. Crews worked on Saturday to continue with the salvage and demolition. The building is expected to be completely demolished by the afternoon of April 17.

To see video of the storm damage, go to: http://ui.media.uiowa.edu/tornado.htm
For updated University information and pictures, go to:
http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eournews/tornado/index.html

Fleet Services, Motor Pool temporarily moved into the 202 Conference Room in University Services Building (USB) Friday and it's business as usual today, Monday, April 17. Faculty and staff who need to pick up a University fleet vehicle will go to 202 located on the second floor of USB. Mike Wilson, Motor Pool Manager, said two-thirds of the motor pool's fleet that suffered damage has been repaired and any additional cars that are needed will be rented from local car rental agencies. Arrangements are being made to relocate Fleet Services to a trailer on the Madison Street property later this week.

Tornado Clean-up Efforts Move Ahead Quickly (Sunday, April 16, 6:00 p.m.)
Less than 12 hours after the tornado hit, Facilities Management directors and staff were moving forward with plans to recover items from the Motor Pool wreckage, secure the site, and demolish the unsafe structure. As of Sunday, April 16 the Motor Pool facility is 90% demolished. The demolition is scheduled for completion Monday, April 17. Motor Pool staff will be located in Conference Room 202, University Services Building until an alternative site is determined.

The University of Iowa is estimated to have suffered nearly $6 million in storm damage Thursday, April 13 not including automobile damage which could be extensive. Facilities Management staff worked diligently Friday, April 14 and through the weekend to clear debris and minimize disruption to the campus due to the storm. In a public statement Friday, April 14, President Skorton thanked the staff of Facilities Management for their timely actions.

Update: Friday, April 14, 2:10 p.m. Groundskeepers have finished clearing debris from Madison St. and Parking Lot 11. About 16-19 groundskeepers and 12 staff from special projects worked through the night using chainsaws, bobcats and chippers to remove the fallen trees and debris.

Lot 11, Madison St. during clean-up

Lot 11, Madison St. after clean-up

Friday, April 14, 11:00 a.m.
Facilities Management crews having been working through the night to clear debris from roadways and sidewalks after a tornado made its way through the UI campus and downtown Iowa City Thursday night, April 13. Soon after the storm passed Facilities Management crews were out in force.

Don Guckert, associate vice president of facilities management says, "We are fortunate that the storm skirted the south end of campus and didn't cause widespread damage to facilities. The Motor Pool Facility is a total loss and demolition plans are underway. I commend our Facilities Management crews for getting out right away to begin cleaning debris from the streets. I also extend appreciation to those who worked through the night as well as those crews and staff members who came in early this morning to aid in the clean-up efforts."

Offers of assistance from Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa came in early this morning. Rod Lehnertz, director of UI Campus Planning said, "Although the UI campus did sustain noticeable damage, we were fortunate that the damage was mostly contained in a small area on the south side of campus. We recognize that the Iowa City community has suffered considerable damage and that some members of our faculty, staff and student population are in need of assistance."

So far the only report of significant University building damage is to the Motor Pool Facility on Madison Street. Check back here for further updates. UI News Services has additional information at: http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eournews/tornado/

TORNADO DAMAGE

Tornado Rips Through UI Campus April 13

Motor Pool Facility on Madison St. is a total loss.

 of