August 16, 1997

HIGH WATER NEWS

Vol. 1 No. 1 - Wednesday, Aug. 16, 1967 - UA, News Service

Welcome to the U of A

More than 6,000 students are on the University of Alaska Campus today to attend a special non-credit short course in flood survival, sponsored by the Department of Summer Sessions, Conferences and Short Courses.

The students represent most of Fairbanks areas - including College, Aurora, Hamilton Acres, Island Homes, Westgate, Taku, Birch Park, etc.

The introductory portions of the course were held yesterday, August 15. During the day, the students learned some of the basics of flood survival such as rapid packing, furniture stacking, boat and helicopter evacuation, and, perhaps most important, line standing.

As this is strictly a residence course, all students are living on campus and are being fed at the Commons. Dr. Wood pointed out that although the enrollment is somewhat larger than the university normally has on the main campus, facilities were available to house and feed all students.

The short course will continue indefinitely until the high water subsides.

Traffic Problems Arise
The large number of vehicles on campus is creating a definite traffic problem. Those vehicles which are not being used for emergency services should be parked well away from the central campus area and not driven. Those persons having vehicles parked along the campus streets are requested to try and park them in parking lots or in areas where they are out of the traffic pattern.

Mail Service Offered
A limited mail service is now in operation to carry letters to the Airport for mailing. Persons wishing to mail letters to friends and relatives should bring them to the Registrar's office in the Bunnell Building.

Water Conservation is Vital
Although there appears to be plenty of water around these days, the university is presently facing a water shortage. Two of the shallow wells located below the campus were cut off early Tuesday, and the present supply is only barely adequate to meet the present demands.
Water usage during one hour this morning used up all the water which had been accumulated during the six hour slack in water usage last night. Please restrict your water consumption to the absolute minimum.

Services Available on Campus
DISPENSARY - LOCATED BEHIND CONSTITUTION HALL
INFIRMARY - LOCATED IN WICKERSHAM HALL
NURSERY - THIRD FLOOR EIELSON BUILDING
RECREATION - PATTY BUILDING GYMNASIUM
MOVIES - ALL DAY IN SCHAIBLE HALL, BUNNELL BUILDING
FOOD - UNIVERSITY COMMONS
MAIL - REGISTRAR'S OFFICE IN BUNNELL BUILDING

Air Force to Evacuate Women, Children to Anchorage
Arrangements are being completed to evacuate women, children and persons needing close medical supervision to Anchorage.

The Air Force will fly the evacuees to Anchorage, however, they will not provide return transportation. Mass housing similar to that here at the university is now being arranged in Anchorage.

Persons desiring to be evacuated should contact Lloyd Booth or Clarence Beers in the Comptroller's Office in the Bunnell Building.

Flight times and transportation from the campus to the airport will be announced later.

Stay Off Helipad!
The lower Bunnell Parking Lot is being used as a helipad. All persons are requested to stay away from the helipad and the approach area. Parents should ensure that their children are kept well away from the area.

Vol. 1 No. 2 - UA, News Service

Issued 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, 1967

POWER PLANT RESERVES ADEQUATE
The university power plant, last bastion of light, heat and power after flood waters knocked out the Fairbanks power system and the Golden Valley Electric Association, reports a coal supply that will last a minimum of 20 days at the present rate of consumption.

Coal is used to fire the plant's boilers. Gerald England, plant supervisor, says more than 650 tons of coal are on hand.

The university's water supply, according to England, was holding steady with the reserve standing at a little more than a third of capacity.

However, he said water consumption should be kept to a minimum if this reserve is to be maintained. Flood waters have kayoed three of the university's wells, each capable of producing up to 200 gallons a minute.

A half dozen other low-yield wells, each capable of producing 10 to 15 gallons a minute, remain in operation and have not been affected by the flood.

Another well, used in connection with sewage treatment facilities, also remains in operation. It's capacity is 90 gallons a minute.

All campus residents and evacuees are urged also to restrict the use of electricity to a minimum, England said. He explained that electrical production is tied in with water usage and that a higher demand for electricity creates a higher demand for water.

England praised the efforts of more than 600 volunteers --- including women and children --- who labored through Tuesday and Tuesday night to save the power plant from being flooded out.

The water, he said, rose in the basement to within an inch and a half of the point at which the plant's equipment would have had to be turned off.

England said that the volunteers worked in mud and sludge that was waist-high, and he estimated 2,000 to 3,000 sandbags were filled in the successful attempt to keep the water from rising to the critical level.

More than a dozen pumps were in operation this afternoon at the plant and England said the pumps would have to be kept running until the level of the flood waters surrounding the campus dropped considerably.

Water, he said, was continuing to flow into the plant's basement from an underground utilidor running from the university's warehouse to the plant. The warehouse has been flooded since Tuesday morning.

The pumps, however, will keep the water below the level of equipment, England said. He added that more than two dozen standby pumps are ready to be put into operation should the need arise.

CAMPUS POPULATION IN FLUX
Continuing evacuations to the campus from flooded areas and a shuttle of evacuees to the airport for flights to evacuation centers in Anchorage this afternoon kept the campus population in flux.

The best estimate at mid-afternoon was that some 6,500 persons were on campus.--- housed in homes, classrooms, dormitories, lobbies, offices, hallways and just about any vacant place.

A steady airlift of sleeping bags and blankets, as well as shipments of food, continued to flow onto the campus today.

FIRE REGULATIONS STRESSED
All campus residents and evacuees are urged to observe fire regulations and fire evacuation procedures, posted in all residence halls.
Fire lanes should be kept open and fire doors shut. Overloading of electrical circuits should be avoided at all times.

CLOTHING AVAILABLE
An assortment of miscellaneous clothing, donated for use by flood victims and evacuees, is available in the Housing Office in Hess Hall.

DOG CARE PROVIDED
All dogs should be taken to a fenced area next to the Patty Building Gymnasium, *Reports of a half dozen dog bites have been reported because of dogs running loose. Dog care will be provided at the fenced-in area.

INTER-FAITH MEETING SCHEDULED
An inter-faith service will. be held at 7 this evening in Schaible Hall in the Bunnell Building. Bunnell is the main administration building situated on the southeast corner of Memorial Plaza.

RICHARDSON HIGHWAY STILL CLOSED
The Richardson Highway, Fairbanks' only road link to the south, remained closed at 40 Mile today because of washouts caused by flooding of the Salcha River. The road washed out shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday. Observers said that it would take workmen about eight hours to repair the road once the level of the river had dropped sufficiently to allow crews to divert water back into the main stream.

HOT MEALS AVAILABLE
Hot meals are available in the University Commons from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, during the flood crisis.
Breakfast will be served from 6 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. and dinner from 5 p.m.
Campus residents who are running low on food are urged to come to the Commons to eat, rather than drawing food from the Commons kitchen.
Bob Mathison, food service manager, reports the kitchen can still use more trained cooks and volunteer helpers. Interested persons should report to Mathison in the Commons.

SHUTTLE SERVICE SET
A limited shuttle service is available to take persons to the Fairbanks International Airport for evacuation to Anchorage.

Alaska Airlines is making three flights each day on its normal schedule, and a limited amount of free transportation from the military is available.
Persons wishing to be evacuated to Anchorage should check out at the housing office in Hess Hall and then report to the helicopter pick-up point behind the Eielson Building. Priority will be given to women, children, and persons requiring medical attention.
Families should stay together and all persons should travel as lightly as possible.

EVACUATION TO DELTA JUNCTION AVAILABLE
Residents of Delta Junction who wish to return to their homes should report to the helicopter pick-up point near the Eielson Building for transportation to Fairbanks International Airport. Air National Guard transportation is available to take them to Delta.
Persons who leave should check out at the housing office in Hess Hall before leaving so their rooms can be reassigned.

CHECK OUT BEFORE LEAVING
Many rooms on campus are not being occupied because residents fail to check out at the housing office before leaving the university.
All persons who are leaving the university or being evacuated are urged to notify the housing office in Hess Hall of their departure so their rooms may be reassigned.

WATER SUPPLY INSTRUCTIONS
University water conservation is now being enforced.
The water lines to many campus buildings are being shut off. Drinking water will be supplied from Civil Defense disaster water barrel syphon systems and chemical toilet facilities are being erected.
Those persons living in buildings which still have running water are urged to conserve the supply as much as possible.

SHORT-TAKES

  • The Lost and Found Office is located in Hess Hall.
  • The movie, "Cat Ballou," will be shown at 8 tonight in the third floor auditorium of the Duckering Building, located north of the Bunnell Building. For adults only.
  • The university library, in the Bunnell Building, is open.
  • All Summer Session classes have been cancelled for the remainder of the session.
  • Driving on campus, except for emergencies, is prohibited. All autos should be parked in the Patty Building parking lot.
  • Typhoid serum will be available at a time to be announced later. Persons should not go to the Dispensary until the hours are announced.
  • Two babies have been reported born on campus since evacuees began arriving. There also was an unconfirmed report that a wedding was scheduled to take place today.
  • As of 4 p.m., the water level in downtown Fairbanks had dropped eight inches since the crest of the flood Tuesday evening.
  • Mayor H.A. (Red) Boucher reported that city wide telephone service was expected to be restored in ten days. The flood reportedly caved in a basement wall in the central exchange. New equipment will have to be installed, Boucher reported.
  • The downtown Fairbanks area is restricted to all persons except those carrying posice passes. The National Guard is patrolling the area.