The campus apparently came through the recent series of rainstorms in decent shape, with a few building leaks and no more than a score of trees lost, reports Jon Cook, associate director of physical facilities.

Among those with leaks were some of the newest buildings completed—the Engineering Sciences Building and the Marine Sciences Research Building. “We have a couple of drips, but no water damage,” reported Roger Monte of design and construction in regard to the engineering building.

Monte said the blockage of Highway 101 at La Conchita, due to the hillside collapse, slowed the building’s contractor from beginning the inspection any sooner.

The Marine Sciences Research Building, which houses the Marine Science Institute, leaked around several windows facing the ocean. “Fortunately, we had no roof leaks,” said Shanna Bowers, who was training her replacement MSO, Tim Schmidt, at the institute before retiring from UCSB.

She said the contractor promptly repaired the water damage and recaulked the windows. “Coming so soon after we moved in, he treated the repairs as part of the construction project,” she said.

Around the campus, the strength and rotational nature of some of the winds proved the undoing of large trees, including ficus with 80-foot canopies and thick, 35-year-old trunks. One went down near Kerr Hall and another at the east end of Engineering I.

Based on weather reports and the way trees were damaged, Cook surmises that waterspouts—tornados spawned in the Channel—may have touched down on campus where the larger trees fell or were so badly broken they had to be removed.

Most but not all of the estimated 15 to 20 trees lost were victims of the wind.