University of Florida Panhellenic Greek sorority houses are facing various stages of structural damage 14 days after Hurricane Irma hit Gainesville.
Off of West Panhellenic Drive on Sorority Row, Alpha Omicron Pi sorority house experienced severe inundating. Women living in-house were expected to relocate until repairs were finished. Your house, inbuilt 1948, houses 50 women.
Alpha Omicron Pi’s Property owner Cassidy McKenna asserted problems began the evening of Sept. 10 and to the morning of Sept. 11. Due to the heavy rain, she said leading porch collected enough water to seep into the foyer. It didn’t end there.
“Because with the hurricane we have been having bad plumbing issues,” said McKenna. “Our back hallway flooded through the plumbing.”
Cheyce Bachelor, person in Alpha Omicron Pi, said much of the women remained residing at the sorority house while Hurricane Irma hit, which luckily meant they could help lessen harm to the interior of the house.
“They was able to help combat the flooding with towels,” Bachelor said.
McKenna said they provided the decision on Thursday, Sept. 14 to relocate females living in-house towards Holiday Inn for four days and three nights in order for the demolition process might take place. The vacation Inn has been largely booked because of Irma, countless women relocated to remain with friends.
Cheyce Bachelor said meal services were cancelled to the week after Hurricane Irma until plumbing was fixed as well as sorority house was safe to occupy.
“Our house mom found the latest way to have meals to all of us,” she said. “The chefs actually cooked out of a rented food truck, which I’m certain wasn’t easy and simple activity on their behalf, so that we counseled me very appreciative of your time and effort placed in ensuring that we still got mealtime.”
In-house women were safe to advance way back in on Sept. 17 and meal services resumed the day after, McKenna said.
Other sorority houses fared better from Irma’s powerful force. Delta Zeta House Manager Abby Murphy said morning on Sept. 11 just about all power was cut in the sorority house.
“We had lights, water and hot showers, but the kitchen at home and air conditioner didn’t work,” said Murphy. “We had 7 percent power.”
Thankfully, she said no person had to evacuate and dinner services could resume later that week.
Other sororities faced little to no damage, said Murphy.
Delta Delta Delta member Sara Walbrecht said the sorority house didn’t have damage or power outage during or following the hurricane. Delta Delta Delta and Delta Zeta may also be located on Sorority Row from 13th Street.
UF’s Alpha Omicron Pi chapter covered damages and hotel expenses, said McKenna, however the executive board is intending on sending the invoices to Alpha Omicron Pi’s National Headquarters.
UF Panhellenic President Devon Leasure was not able to be reached for comment to talk about possible reparations.
As to handle future hurricanes, McKenna said sandbags could be of help because of their front porch.
