Peru State fights floodwaters

While whiteout conditions and heavy snow wreaked havoc on CSC’s side of the state, Nebraska state colleges at the eastern end have been battling floodwaters and contaminated water systems. 

Peru State College’s Director of Marketing and Communications Jason Hogue said campus was alerted about flooding “as early as Thursday.” Peru’s campus and community rallied to sandbag critical areas for 6-7 hours, but when a nearby levee was breached the water treatment facility was flooded despite efforts.

During this time only water in Peru’s water tower was available, prompting Peru State to ask students to consider going home. Hogue said he was “glad students were flexible” and noted that some students stayed with faculty and fellow students throughout the water crisis.

“We had a great outpouring of support for staff and students,” Hogue said.

Classes were cancelled on Monday as plans for bringing water into town were underway. Sanitary tankers that normally carry milk brought in water from Auburn’s municipal water supply and pumped directly into Peru’s water tower. Though the water is good for bathing, laundry and cooking, Hogue said the solution isn’t cheap.

“We went from not having enough water to having water, but it’s expensive,” Hogue said.

Because water had to be pumped into the water tower, Peru has issued a boil order, meaning that all water should be boiled before use. However, Peru has also asked that bottled water is used for drinking and other sanitary uses.

“If you’re brushing your teeth, you’re using bottled water,” Hogue said.

As Peru resumed classes yesterday, Hogue said it’s impossible to tell when Peru State and the City of Peru will be back to normalcy, but he does know that Peru will be needing bottled water for the long-term. Although they are in need of bottled water, Hogue wants others to know that the situation “is not a crisis.”

Chadron State’s Student Senate has donated $500 toward bottled water for Peru as well as water purifiers. Hogue expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with Peru’s support and thanked the city of Auburn for their continued aid.

“Thank you to all students, faculty and staff that have made this horrible situation bearable,” Hogue said.