Although most of Loyola’s campus escaped destruction from Hurricane Katrina, the Recreational Sports Complex suffered significant damage.

Storm winds blew off several skylights over the basketball court and the swimming pool, allowing rainwater and debris to enter the facility. The roof also had leaks in various places.

Nan Davis, director of recreational sports, said that some have suggested that a small tornado is the cause for the roof damage. The leaky roof and an overflowing pool caused sections of the wood in the basketball court to buckle.

The teams are playing this season’s home games on the new, non-damaged court that was finished in April. After returning to survey the damage, Davis said she realized that the entire court needed to be replaced because of dead spots in the wood.

Davis said insurance is covering the cost of replacing the 17-year-old court with the same kind of court as the one finished in April.

“It could be a lot worse,” said Davis. “The whole roof (could be gone), and there would be no basketball season.”

The roof damage has been fixed already except for a few skylights. The pool was repainted this week and is scheduled to open Thursday.

In the weight room, only a lat machine is out of order, but the electric machines upstairs received damage. The storm also ruined all the carpeting in the RecPlex. The carpeting has been replaced in the RecPlex offices, and Davis said the rest should be done by Feb. 1.

“It’s taking a great deal of work,” Davis said. “Physical Plant has been working real hard since after the storm. It will take patience on everyone’s part while putting things together. It is a difficult, makeshift operation.”

Gene Guillot can be reached at [email protected].