Reflecting on Preparations for Hanna

By Broadside Interim Assistant News Editor Sonya Hudson

As Tropical Storm Hanna swept across the weather channel and local cable news channels Friday, Sept. 5, George Mason University prepared for the worst.

Sandbags were strategically placed along sidewalks and buildings of student apartments to prevent flooding and water damage to the low-lying buildings. Housing prepared buildings for disaster.

“Maintenance staff laid sandbags on the grounds that are susceptible to heavy rains, cleared outside drains of debris, emptied outside garbage cans, and prepared a supply of plastic coverings in case of leaks in the buildings,” said Christopher Weathers, the associate director of Housing for Administration and interim director of Housing and Residence Life.

“Housing officials contacted the construction companies near residential facilities to ensure their equipment was secure and grounds were cleared of debris,” Weathers said.

Housing also kept students and faculty informed through email advisories. The e-mail warned of the upcoming dangerous storm and addressed potential problems.

Housing and dining officials met with the campus Emergency Operations Group to discuss plans for Hanna’s arrival.

“We reiterated what the contact protocol would be if, as the Johnson Center was, without power for an extended time,” said Mark Kraner, Assistant Vice President of University Services. “Signs were to be put up on the facility, the dining Web site updated, and Housing would be contacted so that they could inform residents that the dining options were closed.”

“As with all events of this nature, we need to review what we thought would happen with the reality of the situation,” Kraner said. “This will serve as a training opportunity.”
The Johnson Center had to close early on Saturday, Sept. 6, due to a power outage. However, students had plenty of food options.

According to the housing e-mail, “If a power outage occurs, there will be a reduction in dining services. Ciao Hall will be the primary location for dining if the outage is extensive.”

Ciao was open all day, as was Damon’s, which now takes bonus dollars and freedom funds. Both dining options had a steady flow of students, drenched from the downpour.

“Ciao had a steady stream of hungry students all throughout the day and evening. With the closing of Express, there was still the opportunity for convenience store items at One Stop Patriot Shop in Blue Ridge, which had quite a busy day and night,” said Denise Ammaccapane, director of Mason dining.

“All in all, we were very prepared and felt confident those students on campus had a place to go and get something to eat or drink up until 4 a.m., when Ike’s closed,” Ammaccapane said.

Mason students weren’t quite as prepared as Mason itself. Carrie Desocio and Alex Litwack were not even aware of the approaching storm.

“On Saturday, I worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from the beginning to the end of the storm,” said Desocio, a junior.

“I took a math placement test during the storm,” said freshman Litwack.

Sophomore Nick Madden, on the other hand, made preparations for the coming storm.

“I set up my schedule so that I could work during the storm because no one comes to my work when it rains,” said Madden. “So I got paid for just chilling at work.”

In response to Hanna, Desocio did not think it was as bad as the weather channel and news made it out to be, comparing this storm to the last big hurricane Virginia had seen.

Tropical Storm Hanna did not cause as much damage as previously predicted. Hanna turned out to be a rainy day that did not lead to any residential housing flooding, but led to soaked students turned away from the comfort of the JC.

Other students, safely indoors and dry, remembered crucial mistakes they made. When Madden looked out the window at his job at Great Harvest and saw the torrential downpour, his first reaction came quickly.

“Aw crap! I should have rolled up my windows,” Madden said.