Winter Storm Jonas was the single biggest snowstorm on record for at least six locations in the East, including Baltimore-Washington International Airport, which received 29.2 inches, according to the Weather Channel. The blizzard buried the entire metro DC area with up to three feet of snow, and as a result American University was closed January 22 through January 26.
While the university’s closure resulted in some employees enjoying a long weekend (even if much of it was spent shoveling), there were still students on campus that needed to eat, study, and move about campus safely. To keep things going, library, campus life/recreation, dining services, information technology, public safety, and communications staff remained on campus to keep things running smoothly at the school and for AU staff members working remotely.
The Facilities Management department was particularly busy dealing with the mountains of snow. Here’s a breakdown of the people, equipment, and supplies American University needed to battle the blizzard:
- 60 staff members directly supported snow removal operations.
- 10,000 lbs. of magnesium chloride applied to walkways and stairways and 8 tons of road salt on all campus roadways.
- 280 gallons of biodiesel to fuel diesel-powered equipment and vehicles.
- 1,200 cubic yards of snow transported and stockpiled.
- 11 building maintenance technicians supported facility related corrective and emergency repairs.
- 6 plows; 8 salt-rigs; 3 backhoe loaders; 1 dump truck; 8 snow throwers; 6 tractors; and 35 snow shovels.
