ASUO Elections: The Emerald’s question-and-answer sessions with the ASUO Executive candidates are on hiatus until Monday because of storm coverage.
Friday, February 8,2002
Since 1 900
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 103, Issue 92
NATURE S FURY
“That’s my truck. Was my truck.”—Gregory Abel, University student
Thomas Patterson Emerald
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Sean Strahon surveys the scene on University Street across from McArthur Court. Winds gusting up to 70 mph felled trees and disrupted power across the city.
I
Y» >Y
Thomas Patterson Emerald
Falling foliage brought down power lines and a transformer, also causing damage
to the Aldersgate Quads on Alder Street between 14th and 15th avenues.
Wind storm leaves
campus in shambles
■A fierce storm swept through
the Eugene area Thursday, leaving
a little bit of everything in its path
By Jeremy Lang
Oregon Daily Emerald
A wind storm packing 70 mph gusts
descended on Eugene late Thursday af
ternoon, leaving in its wake city-wide
power outages, smashed cars and a cam
pus strewn with debris. •
Department of Public Safety Lt. Herb
Homer said DPS received a call at about
4:30 p.m. of a branch going through a win
dow in Lawrence Hall, then “all of a sud
den, it was just one call after another. ”
National Weather Service meteorologist
Steve Starmer said he called a high-wind
warning at 4:35 p.m., and the wind never
dipped below 40 mph until after 5 p.m.
“We had reports of roofs blowing off,”
Starmer said. “It’s not typical. But it’s
certainly a time of year when intense
storms can happen. ”
Despite the damage, Thursday’s storm
doesn’t come close to the infamous 1962
Columbus Day storm, which had sus
Russell Weller Emerald
tained winds of 63 mph and gusts top
ping 86 mph.
By 7 p.m. Thursday, DPS compiled re
ports of more than 10 downed power
lines and 17 uprooted or snapped trees
on campus alone. There were no reports
of major injuries.
Turn to Storm, page 6A