By CJ Guion
Earlier today, groups of students from college campuses around the triangle teamed up to clean up Shaw University’s campus which was severely damaged by the tornado that hit the Raleigh area last weekend. Students from schools such as NC State, Shaw University, Duke University, St. Augustine’s College, North Carolina Central, and others were present to help pick up fallen trees, rocks, and other debris that was left on the campus.
On Sunday, administration from Shaw canceled classes for the remainder of the spring semester, because the campus was unsafe for students and faculty to navigate in a comfortable manner. Several dormitories were damaged, as well as the Willie E. Gray student center which houses the school’s cafeteria. Several other buildings on the campus were hit as well. The school is looking to receive Federal Aid and Grants from the government to assist with the costs to repair the school. The school is continuing with it’s athletic events and school administrators announced that graduation will be held as previously planned.
According to a press release by the City of Raleigh, the storm that hit the area this past weekend caused $115 million dollars worth of damage to homes and commercial establishments. The City of Raleigh inspections department reported that 138 and eight businesses were destroyed. To add to that, 2,269 homes received major or minor damage. The total damage assessment was totaled at $115, 017, 269.90. $82 million of the damage was residential, and $33 was commercial damage. The areas that received the most damage from the storm were the northeastern and southeastern parts of Raleigh as well as sections of the downtown area.
Community organizations and the Red Cross continue to collect canned goods, clothing, and donations to assist the victims of the tornado. Earlier this week, the student government of NC State created a relief effort entitled Universities United: Supporting Our State which will collect funds and create other relief events to provide assistance to NC State, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s students, faculty, and staff who were directly affected by the storm.
