By Shelly Williams/editor in chief
Floods across Tarrant County affected students and faculty trying to get to classes Sept. 7-8.
More than six inches of rain fell across the county from Tropical Storm Hermine, causing muddy parking lots, slippery hallways and the closing of a building on South Campus.
Seven classrooms of students in the South Communications Learning Center were transferred to other buildings after flooding and damages were reported. In some places of the building, 6-9 inches of water were reported, said South humanities divisional dean Judith Gallagher.
Faculty was moved to the portable South Media Building after workers had to pump out water, remove furniture and computers and rip out the carpet. Faculty desks and computer towers were ruined.
It could take six to eight weeks before classrooms are back to normal, Gallagher said.
NW Campus faced flooding issues with overflow parking as the unpaved surface was shut down during the storm. The nearby YMCA soccer field became the temporary overflow lot, and a shuttle ran to the campus every 15 minutes.
Police and fire academy cadets parked in alternate areas, opening up an extra 100 paved parking spaces.
Dr. Joe Rode, NW Campus vice president for student development services, said water damage occurred through windows and hallways of each NW building and especially in the library. However, he had no comment on the extent and cost of the damages.
Pat Marling, NE Campus nurse, said she struggled to stay dry Sept. 8 as she dashed from golf cart to building and back again, responding to four calls to aid students who slipped and fell.
“Everyone needs to be more careful. Be mindful. Things are wet,” she said. “Of course, the wet floors are going to be slippery. Give yourself extra time, enough time for unexpected traffic or trouble parking and time to walk safely to class.”
Mike Tankersley, NE superintendent of plant operation and maintenance, said he fixed a few leaky roofs the morning of Sept. 8.
SE student Trang Tran said she wasn’t prepared for the weather or the treacherous drive to school.
“I had to almost stop my car a few times because of all the water,” she said. “I thought I might hit someone because I couldn’t see. I had to use a trash bag because I forgot my umbrella.”
Other students released their weather-related frustrations on TCC’s Facebook group page. They told their own driving stories and complaints in comments following TCC’s posting about the South building closing.
“I couldn’t see anything in front of me, so what I did was follow the red lights from the back of the car in front of me,” said NE student Quyen Vo on Facebook. “I saw some of the cars in front of me make a U-turn. It was because the water level in front of us was so high, it almost covered the tires of some cars.
“Then I made up my mind, making a U-turn just like many people did earlier. My car was old, and I didn’t want to take a risk. It wasn’t worth it.”
