PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Authorities say a tornado packing winds of up to 120 mph has damaged residence halls and a stadium at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus.
Wisconsin's Emergency Operations Center says the "low-end" EF2 tornado ran through the campus in southwestern Wisconsin late Monday. At least five buildings were damaged.
Roofs of two residential halls were heavily damaged. There also was extensive damage at Pioneer Stadium, the school's football and soccer stadium.
No injuries were reported on campus. UW-P Assistant Chancellor Dennis Cooley says while school is out, people were on campus for summer camps, but all were ushered to safety. He said those camps have been canceled.
The campus was closed Tuesday. The tornado was one of two that struck the Platteville area.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball coach is credited with moving dozens of children out of harm's way as a tornado hit the campus.
About 150 children, ages 8 to 17, were attending a basketball camp at the school and were sleeping on the top floor of Rountree Commons residence hall.
Athletic director Mark Molesworth saidcoach Jeff Gard was at his computer, heard a noise and saw the approaching tornado early Tuesday. Gard woke the children and moved them to an interior room. The dorm sustained extensive roof damage when the tornado hit.
Other children attending band, engineering and pre-college camps were taken to safe shelters during the storm and then sent home. The camps have been canceled.
