IMMEDIATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2004

ABAC FEELS FORCE OF HURRICANE FRANCES

Tifton— Florida was not the only state to feel the effects of Hurricane Frances as it swarmed through the south. Tifton, and more specifically, Abraham Baldwin College, felt the power of this natural disaster as well.

While ABAC was serving as a shelter for Floridian evacuees, the campus faced some damages of its own. According to Duane Weeks, electrician for the campus, a lot of water damage was sustained that caused power outages across the campus.

Weeks said, “Power was out in various parts of the campus until 10:30 – 11 a.m. Tuesday. There was water damage to various buildings, mainly the ceiling tiles.” Some of the buildings that sustained these damages are the Yow Forestry/Wildlife building and the Donaldson Dining Hall. “The dining hall’s refrigeration went out with $4,000 worth of food in it but we were able to salvage that,” Weeks said.

“We also had water come into a high voltage area of the campus and shorted out. The parts we need to fix this have run out due to all the Florida residents needing the same part, but it will get done.”

Other damages to the campus were minor; fallen limbs and debris typical of any strong storm.