The Daily from Ball State Unified Media
NEWS

Indiana, Ball State still working to clear the ice

Ball State canceled this morning's classes until 11 a.m., but the state escaped the worst of a monster storm that barreled across Indiana and left thousands in the dark last night.

"We are anticipating much less damage and much less effect from the ice across the central portion of the state," Joe Wainscott, executive director of the state Department of Homeland Security, told a news conference in Indianapolis this morning.

Wainscott said he knew of no deaths directly attributable to the storm.

Forecasters predicted that the weight of freezing rain could snap tree limbs and power lines, disrupting electricity for days if not weeks to some people. However, Wainscott said, a change in the weather pattern produced more sleet than freezing rain.

The sleet, he said, "did not stick on our critical infrastructure as much as we thought it might."

Even so, as many as 84,000 Indiana electric customers were without power last night at the peak of the storm. Most of those had their power restored by today, Wainscott said.

"Our utility crews continue to make good progress," he said.

Students and university officials were frustrated with the difficulties of travel around campus after the latest storm. Sheets of ice covered the sidewalks throughout campus even after the university opened at 11 a.m.

"Its been a little frustrating to guess exactly how long it's going to take to do certain things," Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of facilities planning and management said.

Progress with the ice on sidewalks is going slower than expected Kenyon said.

"There is no question that there are several pathways that are not in good shape and probably won't be for a day or more," he said.

Kenyon does not have the final decision in whether or not to delay or cancel classes, but he does put in his recommendation to Randy Howard, vice president for business affairs and treasurer who has the ultimate decision.

"My recommendation (this morning) was if we have a lot of pedestrians out at 8 a.m., they are getting in the way of snow removal," he said.

Waiting even longer for the weather really wasn't going to make a difference Kenyon said.

"There is still going to be plenty of ice out there for the next few days," he said.

Students and faculty continue to slip and slide through the inch of ice that encases campus streets and sidewalks.

Senior Michal Knappenberger said she slid down the steps in the parking garage like it was a slide this morning.

"When I walked outside it was cold, windy and icy," she said. "I defrosted my car for 40 minutes."

Knappenberger said she has four-wheel drive in her vehicle, but since the streets off campus hadn't been plowed, she had a hard time getting to campus.

Robert Warrner, a Ball State history professor, said he didn't even try to drive through the icy streets this morning. Instead, he walked more than a mile to campus.

"It was very, very slippery," he said.

Earlier:

With afternoon classes canceled Tuesday, Ball State and its students prepared for what could be the worst storm to hit campus in six years.

The storm began Monday night, dumping snow and ice on Ball State and throughout Muncie.

While universities around the state and area school districts took Tuesday off, campus activity at Ball State went on as planned at first. The university canceled all classes starting after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday due to the storm.

Students weren't pleased they had to go outside at all, though. Senior Hayley Rabbers said she hoped classes would have been canceled earlier.

"I only had to walk to the bus stop, but that was terrible enough to make me not want to go outside the rest of the day," she said.

The National Weather Service reports snow will continue to fall throughout the afternoon, highs will reach about 23 degrees and winds could gust up to 34 mph. Ice accumulation of an inch or more is possible.

Heavy ice across Muncie and other areas could bring down trees and power lines, leaving thousands in the cold and dark, officials warned.

Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president for marketing and communications, said the university wouldn't make a decision on canceling classes until 6 a.m. today.

Senior genetics major Moses Williams said while it is hard to predict how severe the weather can be, the university did its best to make sure students could travel safely.

"For commuters I think it'd be more of a hassle for them, and there could be a little more salt, but I guess they have limited employees for salting and shoveling," he said.

A Facebook event had a more humorous take on this week's weather. "Snowpocalypse 2011" is scheduled through Friday for the entire Midwest. By 9 p.m. Tuesday it had more than 194,000 guests attending. The creator of the event explains, "Schools are being canceled, candles and canned food are flying off Walmart's shelves ... you know what this means ... Snowpocalypse 2011 is upon us!!!"

Freshman social work major Jourdyn Smith said she and her friends prepared for the storm Monday night, when the first of the ice hit Muncie.

"We charged our phones and computers and showered just in case the power went out," she said.

While some students got ready for an icy night indoors, others looked to take advantage of the unscheduled break.

Jason Adamowicz, associate director of Recreation Services, said activity was high at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. After doing a quick survey Tuesday afternoon, he said there were about 120 students using the fitness center and all the basketball courts were full.

"We're on pace for a normal day," he said. "It's probably tougher to get out here for some students, but I think that's good that it's this busy."

Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of Facilities Planning and Management, said while students enjoy themselves outside, it is important to stay out of the way of plows.

"Go outside and play, but stay out of the way," he said. "It's kind of a throw back to high school, but a lot of students go outside on days off."

The storm is not worrying everyone. Freshman criminal justice major Andrew Neitzel said the storm is no different than other winter weather in Indiana.

"I am just going to watch the storm, but I think people are overreacting to this ‘Snowpocalypse,'" he said.

While dealing with an ice storm is different than a snowstorm, Kenyon said crews have been working around the clock to make sure the area is safe for students.

"Most people don't understand if we salt then plow, it is a waste," he said. "It is better to plow and get the snow and ice removed than lay down the salt and let it sit."

Jason Rodgers, emergency management director for Delaware County, advises everyone to travel the safest route and to make sure to be in communication with friends and family.

"The roads are covered with ice, which is a lot different than snow. It is a dangerous situation," he said. "If you are leaving, let someone know where you are going and when you will arrive."

Rodgers said people should travel with blankets, jackets, food and drinks — just in case.

According to an e-mail from the Kinghorn Hall staff, the residence hall will house essential staff in vacant rooms. They urge students to not be surprised if they see a Ball State staff member using the shared restrooms.

This week's storm is being compared to the ice storm in January 2005, a storm that left tens of thousands without power and damaged buildings on campus.

However, Kenyon doesn't expect this storm to be as severe.

"I don't see that kind of damage occurring. We are sized for the kind of weather we have here, but we are not sized for a massive snowstorm," Kenyon said. "Five or six inches we can handle, but it just takes longer. If we get more or five or six inches, we are in trouble."

Cancellations today:

— Mock trial scrimmage has been canceled due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled.

— Jazz ensemble concert has been postponed to Feb. 9.

— Black History Month event "The Willie Lunch Project: Love & Relationships" has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 9 in L.A. Pittenger Student Center Cardinal Hall B.

— The Delaware County Building, Justice Center and all affiliated offices will be closed.

Quad Talk

How do you think Ball State has handled the weather situation?

"I think Ball State is handling it terribly. They should have canceled classes way earlier. I only had to walk to the bus stop, but that was terrible enough to make me not want to go outside the rest of the day."

- Hayley Rabbers, senior

"I think they're doing pretty well. They haven't cleared off the sidewalks, but it's hard when they were being covered with ice. I think classes should have been canceled a little earlier due to the weather, but otherwise I think they've been doing OK."

- Courtney Kinnick, junior anthropology major

"I think they've done like a pretty good job so far. I mean you can't really predict the weather. Meteorologists don't even really do a good job, or they can do as good of a job as they can. I think they've done a pretty good job, but for commuters I think it'd be more of a hassle for them."

- Moses Williams senior genetics major

"I thought the overall weather conditions at Ball State today were fair for travel. Being a commuter, I would have rather had classes being canceled."/

- Zach Robbins, junior pre-med major

"I don't think they handled it very well, I had one class today at 2 and had to get out in the weather for an hour to do that. I think they could have canceled classes earlier. I don't think it's very safe for commuters to drive out in the ice and snow."

- Abbey Hewitt, sophomore dietetics major 


Read More

Comments

More from The Daily

Most Popular

Sponsored Stories

More from our partners
Loading Recent Classifieds...