VIDEO: Strong Storm Causes Damage on Kent Campus

Security camera and drone footage capture the storm and its aftermath

High winds from the strong storms that moved across northeast Ohio Thursday evening caused extensive damage to trees and the May 4 Memorial on Kent State University's Kent Campus. 

Large, fallen tree behind Lowry Hall.

Taylor Hall is the classroom building nearest the memorial site and is home to the May 4 Visitors Center. Security cameras on the building captured this video during the most intense part of the storm.

Video provided by Kent State Police Services. Footage has been condensed from five minutes to one minute. 

The May 4 Memorial suffered extensive damage from fallen tree limbs. Wind gusts up to 80 mph were recorded in Kent.

Drone video captures the damage at the May 4 Memorial.  

Storm damage to the May 4 Memorial.

 

Drone's eye view of the damage to the May 4 Memorial

In addition to the area around the memorial, trees were also damaged on Hilltop Drive and in the Peatland Bog behind DeWeese Health Center. The campus lost more than 35 trees, both large and small, according to Kent State Grounds Manager Rebekkah Berryhill.  

Several large trees fell on Front Campus

Crews from University Facilities Management (UFM) worked all night on Thursday to clear some of the worst damage, but Berryhill said that it will likely take them all week to clear the rest. She asked that visitors to campus avoid downed trees and look out for hanging branches and storm debris. 

UFM crews cleaning up storm damage.

 

POSTED: Monday, August 28, 2023 01:10 PM
Updated: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 09:50 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Phil B. Soencksen