Hurricane Ike paid an unexpectedly strong visit to Louisville, with the National Weather Service measuring some winds over 80 mph.  The entire region suffered significant wind damage, and Southern Seminary is right in the thick of it.

The entire campus, along with neighboring areas, is without power.  Classes have been canceled for Monday, and further announcements will be made as soon as further information is available to us.  Students and other members of the Southern Seminary family met in Chiles Hall for an impromptu meal of hot dogs and other gourmet foods.  The most memorable part of the evening was the necessity of eating a huge inventory of ice cream before it melted and was no more.

Thanks to all who made the provision of that meal possible — and to the entire Southern Seminary/Boyce College family for coming together with such a great spirit.

We all owe a special debt to those on the the Southern Seminary staff and Sodexho crews for working so bravely and so fast to help us recover from this storm.  It is clear that we have sustained major damage to trees and some windows, but we have been spared major damage to buildings.  Once the power is back on, we are back in business.

Stay tuned for further developments — and be careful and safe as we get through these next few days.  Let’s continue to help each other and pull together.  Compared to what others have faced, this is not a huge challenge.

Photos from the event in the cafeteria: