By Michael Kennedy
Much of the University of Louisville Belknap campus was underwater and without power Tuesday, as six inches of rain fell on Louisville in one hour, and more continued to fall.
According to the university, about 30 U of L employees were rescued by boat after the Houchens Administration building rapidly flooded and was surrounded by water. There were several feet of water in the basement of the building.
Nine buildings at the Belknap Campus sustained flooding, and 12 lost electricity. The Ekstrom library was closed due to a lack of electricity. Building alarms sounded around campus, as is common when power is lost, according to DPS.
At the Health Sciences Campus, 20 buildings were damaged, and six of them lost power.
Near the Belknap Campus, cars were flooded to the rooftops on South Brook Street, and water filled the underpass at Third Street and Eastern Parkway, and the underpass on Fourth Street.
University of Louisville President Dr. James R. Ramsey said it was too early to assess how much damage U of L had sustained, but he did say “we have incurred significant damage.”
Classes at the Belknap campus are canceled for tomorrow, but are scheduled to resume on Thursday. According to Ramsey, the fall semseter is expected to begin on time.
