Temple was largely unscathed this morning after taking on Hurricane Sandy on Monday, Oct. 29. The system, which many news outlets have dubbed a “Superstorm” decimated areas in New Jersey,Delaware and New York City, but left Philadelphia on its feet.
While Sandy left minor marks on Main Campus, no major damages or incidents were reported. Downed tree limbs and minor water leaks were reported, but despite Philadelphia’s Frankenstorm frenzy,Sandy passed by Temple without any major hazards.
Deputy Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone credited the university’s quick recovery to the extensive preparations and foresight practiced by the university community.
“The students remained inside being very patient and cooperative…Temple’s executive leadership remained here throughout the storm,” Leone said. “[And] Temple Police, Facilities Management, Computer Services, Dining Services, and Student Affairs were all working together supporting our university throughout this emergency.”
Facilities personnel began the clean-up process early this morning, said Mark Gottleib, superintendant of Service Operations. Despite continuing power outages at Ambler and Fort Washington, Gottleib guaranteed that Main Campus would be up and running on Wednesday, Oct. 31.
No power outages were reported on Main Campus, Leone said.
Several damages on Main Campus included twisted, torn, and missing Temple“T” flags that hang from lamp posts throughout campus. Leaves and tree limbs were scattered on Liacouras Walk and many other campus streets. On the corner of 12th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, stops lights continued to flash green, yellow and red simultaneously to the confusion of drivers brave enough to test the storm. Another light at the corner of 11th and Diamond streets was turned around by the wind. Leone said the Philadelphia Streets Department had been notified.
SEPTA has resumed subway service on the Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, Norristown High Speed Line and city and suburban bus and trolley routes. The services will continue on a regular weekday schedule on Oct. 31, with the exception of some bus routes that cannot run due to road conditions, according to SEPTA. SEPTA also announced that Regional Rail service would resume on Oct. 31 for the start of service.
PATCO service intoNew Jerseyresumed on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
Both PATCO and SEPTA had been suspended after midnight on Monday, Oct. 29, ahead of Sandy.
Ali Watkins and John Moritz can be reached at news@temple-news.com.
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