The Danforth Campus of Washington University in St. Louis incurred moderate damage during severe weather in the St. Louis metropolitan area on May 16. At around 2:45 p.m., a suspected tornado struck the campus, damaging building roofs and concrete, uprooting several large trees that obstructed roads, and causing widespread power and technology disruptions.

“Above all, we extend our thoughts and sympathies to everyone in the region who has been directly affected by this storm, especially those facing the heartbreaking loss of life or severe injuries,” Chancellor Andrew D. Martin stated. “At WashU, we are ‘in St. Louis and for St. Louis,’ and our sentiments are with all who are in distress.”

“Regarding our campus, our team regularly engages in training to ensure we are prepared to respond to a wide range of potential emergencies,” said Nichol L. Luoma, executive vice chancellor for administration and chief administrative officer. “Living in St. Louis, we understand that severe weather is always a possibility, so this is a scenario we routinely rehearse. I’m proud of our team’s capacity to mobilize and assemble the appropriate personnel swiftly to tackle this potentially serious situation on campus.”

The WashU Medical Campus did not suffer significant property damage and continued normal operations. Medical staff were fully engaged in providing emergency care for individuals injured in the storm.

Most WashU students were not on campus during the storm due to summer break. Those present, along with faculty, staff, and visitors, were advised to seek shelter during the storm and received any necessary assistance. No injuries were reported on campus.

Updates regarding campus status and services will be accessible at emergency.washu.edu.

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