AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA. Rebuilding. Xavier University of Louisiana

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1 AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA Rebuilding Xavier University of Louisiana

2 The Miracle in Pictures Rebuilding Xavier University after Hurricane Katrina IN LATE AUGUST 2005, Xavier University of Louisiana was on a roll. The small, Historically Black and Catholic school long recognized for its excellent academic programs over an 80 year history had just been named America s Hottest College for Pre-Med by the Kaplan/Newsweek Guide to Colleges, and singled out as one of the nation s best institutions for undergraduate/graduate education by both The Princeton Review and US News and World Report. Enrollment at the start of the Fall semester was at an all-time high of 4,100 students. Then along came Hurricane Katrina on August 29, which devastated much of the New Orleans area. For more than two weeks, floodwaters brought by the storm covered the entire campus with four feet of water. Katrina scattered Xavier students, staff and faculty across the nation, and its aftermath cast the very survival of the University into serious doubt. President Norman Francis, who recently joked that his decision to reopen the University in would be recorded in history as either naive and stupid or bold and visionary was determined to see the University rebound. And the visionary description has been affirmed. After just five months of intensive cleanup and reconstruction, the University reopened its doors on January 17 bringing back students, faculty and staff to the campus for what was officially the resumption of the fall semester. The most important news was, of course, that the students came back in significant numbers. 3,098 students returned nearly 80 percent of the University s pre-katrina figure, and a good deal better than dire estimates that only half of Xavier s pre-katrina enrollment would return. An impressive 97 percent of the College of Pharmacy students returned to resume their highly competitive program. As I have said before, every time we open our doors, it s a miracle, said Francis, Xavier s president of 38 years, while addressing returning faculty at the first Academic Assembly since the storm hit in late August. Well, I can tell you that opening our doors this time was the biggest miracle of all. Of course, this kind of miracle doesn t come cheaply. To date the University has not received much in the way of government aid to help offset the $40 million that has already been spent to reconstruct the campus. While Federal help is expected at some point from FEMA and Congressional actions, Xavier has been forced to seek bridge loan financing to pay for these extraordinary damages. The reconstruction has been extensive. The ground floor of virtually every building on campus has been gutted and cleaned and the Central Plant, which was totally destroyed by floodwaters, is fully functioning again. All of the storm debris has been cleared and the campus sans green grass and landscaping for the most part looks very much like it did pre-katrina. Refurbishing continues inside other buildings, however, at a feverish pace. Probably the most visible evidence that things are not yet normal are the FEMA trailer parks that have sprung up on two of the University s largest parking lots to house displaced faculty, staff and administrators. The lack of activity in the surrounding residential areas is far from normal. Also, the University Chapel which was housed on the first floor of the Administration Building was completely destroyed and has yet to be rebuilt making Xavier, perhaps, the only Catholic institution in the country without a permanent on-campus chapel. Still the ongoing reconstruction and the return of the students and faculty to the campus have re-energized the campus. What happened to New Orleans represents the greatest disaster this country has ever had, said Francis. That we were able to come back in such a short period of time is a credit to the faith, commitment and passion of our staff and faculty, who put aside their personal losses and problems to make this miracle happen. Xavier s mission and legacy at providing high quality educational services for this nation s leadership cadre, past, present and future, is on the path of full recovery. To all of our supporters, donors and grantors, we offer our gratitude and thanks. COVER: This aerial view of the Xavier South building (center) and the two-year-old St. Martin de Porres dormitory (left) shows both buildings sustained both substantial water damage, as well as roof damage. 2

3 August 30, 2005 XAVIER Inundated with Water A view of Washington Avenue in front of the Administration Building. The Washington Avenue canal has disappeared. 3

4 The University Center (left), Katharine Drexel Hall (right) and the Central Plant (center) surrounded by water. In addition to water damage, numerous buildings also suffered substantial roof damage. Rear entrance to the Convent University Police lost all four squad cars to the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina. This picture of one of the squad cars shows water up to the windows and the abundance of gasoline in the water. 4

5 October 2005 September 2005 The science building auditorium remained flooded with contaminated water one month after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The water had to be drained from the room because the layout of the room would not allow the water to drain on its own. The auditorium was completely gutted to include walls, desks and audiovisual equipment. 5

6 September 2005 September 2005 These pictures from the dining room of the University cafeteria illustrate the vastness of the damage caused by the standing floodwater that remained for weeks. All electrical wiring and connections as well as more than $1.5 million dollars of furniture and equipment had to be replaced. The cafeteria was cleaned and ready for use when school resumed in January. But, to date, students are still being served with paper and plastic products while the regular items are replaced. October

7 September 2005 September 2005 Standing floodwaters severely buckled and destroyed the entire gymnasium floor and all of the coaches and administrators offices that were housed in the facility. Consequently, the flooding caused the suspension of the entire intercollegiate athletic program for the 2006 season. The picture above shows a newly installed floor that was loaned to the University by Mississippi s Jackson State University. 7

8 The students vowed to return, so the University had to make sure administrators, faculty and staff could return also. With the aid of FEMA the University turned two of its largest parking lots into temporary trailer camps. 8

9 Students busy with the rigors of the classroom have replaced the fallen trees and debris that were evident throughout the campus following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. October

10 October 2005 This picture taken on the first floor of the University Center shows the vastness of the destruction. An extensive art collection, the campus Post Office, administrative offices, and a $1 million state of the art copy center were completely destroyed. The University Center serves as the center of student activity and life is returning to normal thanks to the recently completed renovations. September

11 October 2005 October 2005 First floor dormitory rooms were destroyed by the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. These rooms had to be completely refurbished to include the replacement of books, bedding, computers, televisions, small electronic items, and clothing. Insurance claims have been filed but in most cases settlement is not expected until months after the storm. 11

12 October 2005 October 2005 Especially hard hit was the University chapel, which has been completely gutted and still has not been fully restored. Daily mass is now being offered in the former chapel of the founding religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Plans have been drafted for the construction of a new University chapel in honor of St. Katharine Drexel, the University s patroness and founder. 12

13 October 2005 October 2005 These pictures taken outside of the historic Administration Building illustrate the size of the task that was necessary to clear tons of storm debris. Nearly all of the grass on campus was killed and it is estimated that hundreds of trees and plants will have to be replanted. Additionally, the University lost all of its lawn maintenance equipment to the four-foot flood waters that engulfed the entire campus. 13

14 When the levees broke two days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, boats were used to ferry meals and supplies to students and administrators who became trapped on campus. Hot meals were prepared by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the religious order that founded Xavier University. These boats were also used to ferry students and neighbors to higher ground during the evacuation of the city of New Orleans. October

15 October 2005 Nearly every glass panel in the new University Greenhouse was shattered due to the effects of the unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane Katrina. The greenhouse was completely restored and a myriad of research and other teaching and learning opportunities are scheduled for the upcoming semester. 15

16 This first floor University television production studio is used to train students in media production. The three foot water line did not reach the level of the camera, but crews still needed to rip out all of the walls and flooring. To date, the studio is still not operational. November 2005 November

17 September 2005 Classroom renovations were a top priority due to the overarching goal of ensuring that Xavier University would be fully prepared to open on its campus without a need to rely on the establishment of temporary classrooms and dormitories. 17

18 September 2005 Many buildings including the two new dormitories sustained roof damage. The green roofs of the Living and Learning Center and St. Martin de Porres are shown here along with the roof of St. Joseph Hall, which received extensive damage. September 2005 September

19 CREDITS: Cover Photos provided by: Xavier University Facility Planning and Management and NNS/Times- Picayune/Landov All other photos provided by: Xavier University Facility Planning and Management and the Office of Institutional Advancement. After Hurricane Katrina, Rebuilding Xavier University of Louisiana: Produced by the Office of University & Media Relations, A Division of the Office of Institutional Advancement: October 2005 Xavier University has, for the last 14 years, placed more African American students into our nation s medical schools than any other institution in the country. The 1st floor Pre-med office in the Science complex is where it all begins. Students and administrators returned to new facilities with the expectation of continuing to be a vital part of our nation s health care industry. ADRIENNE BROOKS, Vice President for Institutional Advancement DR. KENNETH ST. CHARLES, Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives WARREN BELL, JR., Associate Vice President for University & Media Relations RICHARD TUCKER, Director of Publications GERMAINE AGE WILLIAMS, Marketing Manager CAROL DOTSON, Media Relations Specialist IRVING JOHNSON, III, University Photographer 19

20 W March 2006 hat happened to New Orleans represents the greatest disaster this country has ever had. That we were able to come back in such a short period of time is a credit to the faith, commitment and passion of our staff and faculty, who put aside their personal losses and problems to make this miracle happen. Dr. Norman C. Francis THE MIRACLE CONTINUES