Important Information About Storm Damage

Dear Grinnellians,  

I am writing to provide important information regarding the impact of storm damage on College operations and resources for faculty, staff and students who may have had damage to personal vehicles.  I want to begin by thanking our hard-working Grinnell College staff and faculty who are assessing and cleaning up storm damage and who are available to support students through finals, many while dealing with impacts to their homes and vehicles.  

During this time, we should all be cognizant of and responsive to impacts that the storm may have had on individuals in our campus community, including students who are preparing for final exams and projects. 

This message contains information on: 

• Impacts to Dining Services 
• Facilities  
• Damage to Vehicles 
• Supporting our Students Fund 

Impacts to Dining Services 

Due to storm damage last evening, the JRC Marketplace (dining hall) and The Spencer Grill are experiencing water leaks from the ceilings. Please bear with us as we close off some of the seating spaces.   

The spaces most affected in the Marketplace include the Crescent and Mezzanine dining rooms which are closed at this time (we hope to open later today), and about 1/3 of the Commons dining room is roped off.  The Spencer Grill has some seating closed off.   

Outdoor seating at both The Spencer Grill and the Marketplace remains available.   

If you would like to take a meal to go and you do not have containers available to you, we will have compostable disposable containers available upon request.      

Facilities  

The Facilities Management team is working to locate and address water leaks and damage from the storm, as well as clear debris.  Non-urgent maintenance requests may be delayed due to the increased workload, and your patience is appreciated.  Please report damage and facilities issues by submitting a work order from the link on the Facilities Management web page.  

The local shuttle will continue to run on its regular schedule. Facilities Management has arranged for a large van with a carpool driver to go to Enterprise Car Rental in Pella tomorrow (Tuesday, May 9), departing from the JRC 101 entrance at 9:30am.  This is to take campus community members that have sustained vehicle loss due to the storm to pick up rental vehicles for their personal vehicle replacement. 

At this time, the golf course will be closed through Wednesday, May 10th as repairs are made. 

Damage to Vehicles 

• The first step in assessing and repairing damage to vehicles is to call your insurance provider.  Your insurer will be able to give you details on your coverage.   
• Ask your insurer if they require you to work with certain service providers (e.g., auto glass repair, body shops) to obtain repairs.  Some insurers require that repairs be made by an authorized service provider and will not reimburse for unauthorized repairs. 
• Take pictures of the damage for your records – these may be helpful to your insurance provider. 
• Local service providers will be receiving many inquiries and repair requests.  Reach out early to get “in line” for repairs once you understand your insurance coverage and requirements. 

Supporting Our Students Fund 

The Supporting Our Students (SOS) Fund is a joint venture led by Student Affairs, Office of Financial Services, and Development and Alumni Relations. The fund seeks to assist Grinnell students during unforeseen challenges related to the pandemic, a natural disaster or weather-related emergency.  

Gifts received will be used to help cover expenses such as personal repairs, student travel to/from the College, and any other unanticipated expenses incurred as a result of the disaster.  

Students may apply for funds if they are experiencing a financial barrier or obstacles and have exhausted all other resources, including auto insurance.   

Contributions to the SOS Fund are always welcome and may be made online. 

Thank you for your patience in this difficult situation.  

Sincerely, 

Heather  

Heather Cox, M.S., CIPM, CIPP/E, CBCP, CRMP 

Director of Emergency Management & Risk Mitigation; Data Privacy Officer