Naval Academy losses in tens of millions

Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | 9-24-03 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[putupon]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Hurricane Isabel flooded classrooms and laboratories at the Naval Academy, destroying electrical systems and computers and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage on the military college's waterfront campus.

Half of the academy's classroom space was still unusable yesterday and midshipmen had to move to the auditorium, field house and basketball arena for some classes, said Cmdr. Rod Gibbons, an academy spokesman.

[cubreporter]

Wow. How terrible. We visited there and I can picture the tht amount of water coming over and hitting the structures. Wow, gives me the chills to think about it. It's a beautiful, old, historic place and aside from insurance and a lot of hard old fashioned elbow grease... I am sure the Alumni will also help in this effort. Go Navy!

[battlecry]

It was hard. These links are from across Spa Creek. You can see the Academy in the background:

http://www.severnsailing.org/about/isabel.shtml

I saw two masts in the water by the Academy breakwater in Spa Creek, another sailboat high and dry in the Academy field. More damage across the Severn at the David Taylor basin.

One thing to note, Thursday afternoon I was securing some small sailboats across from the Academy, and right among the stinging rain and blasting winds I could hear the midshipmen playing football. Go Navy!

[LiteKeeper]

Sad news

[Travis McGee]

It's not just the Academy, the bay is a wreck from Norfolk to PA, up every river and creek. It's beyond description.

[expatpat]

We live on the water across the Bay, on Kent Island, and can see parts of the Academy from our house on reasonably clear days/nights.

We were lucky, I guess. We had the salty Bay water spilling over about a third of our yard but it didn't quite reach the house, on somewhat higher land. Two piers (one our own) and a lot of other debris ended up on our lawn during the storm surge, though.

[cogitator]

The crypt for John Paul Jones is under the chapel, but I think the chapel is on higher ground, so I hope it came through OK. It's a beautiful place.

[cubreporter]

Glad to know you were spared. That's great!

[cubreporter]

Wow. Great photos. Scary too. That was funny about hearing the midshipmen playing or practicing football. They are focused aren't they?

Well, gotta admit...we are Air Force but we were shocked and saddened by the damage done to the classrooms and such of the Naval Academy by Isabel. We can play ball on the field and have a good natured game and comraderie but...something like this is more important than wins or losses.

Anyway, in the spirit of competition...may the best man win on Saturday. :)