After Snow, Harvard Begins To Tally Damage

Following a series of heavy winter storms, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences has spent about $700,000 in snow and ice removal from rooftops, building entryways, and walkways to date, according to FAS spokesperson Anna Cowenhoven.

She wrote in an email that snow and ice removal expenses this year have been higher than in previous years “given the volume of storms,” but added that the FAS is currently unable to share the cost of damage repairs.

Workers cleared large icicles hanging off the side of Memorial Church on Feb. 19, 2015. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Yard Operations are assessing the amount of damage that needs to be repaired. By Jennifer Y Yao

As the snow begins to melt, FAS, Yard Operations, and University personnel are in the midst of calculating how much damage still needs to be repaired on campus.

Maureen McCarthy, manager of Harvard Yard and the freshman dormitories, said that despite the heavy snow this winter, the effects of snow accumulation on campus property this winter season compared to previous years do not seem to have been too severe.

“We’re fortunate as far as we know,” McCarthy said, citing a broken lantern and some brickwork along pathways as some of the only damage accounted for so far in Harvard Yard. “Overall we were fortunate with any roof damage and anything visible so far."

McCarthy added, however, that it is still too soon to estimate the cost of snow-related repairs.

“We’re still evaluating what was damaged, and a lot of it we might not know until we have some more snow melt,” she said.

Paul M. Smith, associate manager of landscape services in the Facilities Maintenance Operations department, said many repair jobs can only be done after the snow has melted. According to Smith, these potential jobs include repairs of potholes, “hardscape as far as roads…brick, other masonry stuff, the signs we may have hit.”

McCarthy said she believes Yard Operations will not need additional personnel to deal with the damage caused by the historic level of snow this past winter.

“Hopefully we’ve avoided any problems with foundations. Obviously, there is no way to anticipate that or to estimate what the repair costs would be, until it happens, and then we evaluate the situation,” she said.