A leaking roof at Worthen Arena Wednesday morning is a reminder of the damages a short driving wind can have on campus.
The driveway to the Art and Journalism building was also flooded around 10 a.m., and the material covering the drains didn't help.
A university official said these are things that can't be prevented, but they're dealt with as they happen. No other instances of flooding and no vehicle damage was reported.
Worthen Arena has had leaks ever since it was built in the early 1980s, said Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of Facilities Planning and Management.
Water was leaking from the ceiling above Gate 3 at the concourse Wednesday morning, and custodial staff set up trash cans to collect the water.
Kenyon said the leak wasn't reported to him, and that's normal. Only issues in academic or administrative buildings must be reported.
"Leaks are a constant thing," Kenyon said. "Even a small hole can saturate a roof and work its way into a building."
As far as the pools on water near the Art and Journalism Building parking lot, Kenyon said the material covering the drains can't be removed. It helps keep dirt and mud from clogging the sewer system. Improvements to sewer drainage is part of the McKinley/Riverside construction project.
Keeping water from seeping through the arena ceiling is also hard to avoid. It has a metal roof, which Kenyon said lasts up to 100 years, but isn't the best material for keeping water away. The design relies on slope and gravity to wick away moisture.
Roof repairs can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000, Kenyon said. Repair and rehabilitation used to be a line item in the university budget, but the state eliminated that item for next year's budget. That means costs will now come from the general budget or from residence hall auxillary budgets, in those cases.
"We'll just have to find money in other places," Kenyon said.
He said roofs are repaired at least every 20 years.
"It could be longer, but it probably won't be less," he said. "Once you get to the point of monitoring every year, patching becomes less effective."
The Facilities Planning and Management department uses infrared sensors to see if a roof is retaining moisture.
Flooding in buildings is actually commonplace, Kenyon said, and it's something that's hard to avoid.
"The Administration Building, Applied Technology, anyplace that water can get above the door," Kenyon said. "If it's a driving rain with a lot of wind, it'll push water into places it probably wouldn't go. The wind will go against gravity."
In some cases, it's better to let the rain in.
There are about 60 buildings on campus, and several have a brick facade that allows water to seep into the weep holes and run down.
"Brick walls are designed to leak a little bit," Kenyon said. "As long as it's a reasonable amount, it won't get into the building, and you'll never know it."
Driving in high water tips from Jessica Cummings, owner of Right Track Frame and Unibody Repair
-If water goes above the rim , drive as slowly as possible.
-Water can get into the air intake, where an explosion cantake place that drives the piston down.
-If electrical connections aren't taken apart and cleaned, corrosion can build up over time
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