Tackling the Super Bowl storm

Photo by Christopher Gannon.

When nearly a foot of snow falls on Ames, a well-rehearsed game plan is executed on campus. Here's a look at how facilities planning and management's campus services personnel tackled what the Feb. 1 Super Bowl storm left behind.

Opponent

• Roadways: 23 miles
• Sidewalks and bike paths: 34 miles
• Parking lots: 162 acres

Equipment

• 14 plows
• 4 trucks with sanders
• 14 tractors with brooms
• 19 shovelers

Supplies

• 400 pounds of ice melt
• 24 tons of salt
• 50 tons of sand

Team

• Sunday: 53 staff, working 502 hours
• Monday: 50 staff, working 536 hours

Game plan

When extreme weather doesn't permit a simultaneous offensive on all fronts, the priorities are:

• Roadways
• Parking lots
• Primary sidewalks
• Primary building entrances
• Secondary sidewalks
• Secondary building entrances

From kickoff into overtime

Work started at 5 p.m. Saturday, clearing throughways for fans at Hilton Coliseum, and continued on campus Sunday (1 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Monday (1 a.m.-4 p.m.). Sanding continued Tuesday and crews will continue to haul and push back snow this week.

Monday morning quarterback

If you see problem areas, notify FP&M by calling 294-5100. More information about winter weather policies and guidelines is available online.