University Park, Pa. -- With the weekend's snowfall more than twice what was forecast, Penn State University Park is on its way back to normal. But it didn't just happen by chance.
More than 14 inches of snow fell on the Centre County region between Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, yet University Park and its functions remained open. That continued operation was made possible thanks in part to advance planning and rapid deployment of snow removal strategies via the Office of Physical Plant's Lloyd Rhoades, University's snow marshal.
"We watch for the storm, see that something is likely to occur," said Rhoades, "and then I convene a meeting of the snow management team to start the planning. And from that point, we check stores of salt and anti-skid material, as well as vehicle operation."
Physical Plant personnel involved in the effort numbered into the hundreds for a storm of this size. The level of snow called for midnight clear status to be declared for both Friday and Saturday nights, allowing snow crews to continue their work nonstop through the night, a need that Rhoades mentioned as unquestionably important for this kind of snowfall.
"It's an important service and safety function that we perform. Every storm is different," stated Rhoades. "But we have to keep the place open -- that's our goal."
In addition to University employees, many students were out and about, making the most of the wintry campus. From Friday evening through the end of the weekend, groups of students could be found sledding down the HUB-Robeson Center lawn, building snow forts and even engaging in midnight snowball skirmishes in front of Old Main.
For additional photos of the work and play surrounding this snow event, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2212 online.