University of Iowa Taking Steps to Guard Against Flooding

By Stephen Pradarelli
Iowa Now

The University of Iowa is taking a number of precautionary measures to prepare for potential flooding as the area copes with prolonged rainfall.

A media briefing is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in 2520D of the University Capitol Centre.

Among the measures being taken:

• Temporary barriers, including HESCOs and sandbags, are being constructed around buildings in low-lying areas, including Mayflower Residence Hall, Art Building West, and the UI water treatment plant near the UI Main Library.
• 84 students and conference participants in Mayflower will be relocated Thursday to another residence hall.
• The UI Theatre Building parking lot fronting Riverside Drive (Lot 28) is being temporarily closed. Additionally, the southwest corner of UI Parking Lot 3 (south of the UI Main Library) is being cordoned off to provide a staging area for flood protection efforts.

UI officials, working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and county and city officials, will continue to monitor the weather, the flow and elevation of the Iowa River, and other factors to determine if additional steps are needed to protect the campus. There is currently no need for volunteer help on the UI campus.

In the meantime, all campus operations—including UI Hospitals and Clinics, summer camps and summer classes—are continuing as scheduled, although visitors are encouraged to stay apprised of updates on Iowa Now (now.uiowa.edu), the UI Emergency Information Web ( emergency.uiowa.edu) site and Twitter (@uiowa, #uifloodupdates).

For information about road, sidewalk, parking lot, elevator, and business entrance closures, UI Facilities Management offers subscriptions to its Access & Construction listserve alerts. To sign up, visit www.facilities.uiowa.edu/closures/.