Storms Cause Damage at University of Florida Campus

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Pool chairs are strewn about after a thunderstom Friday at the Florida Pool, near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Photo courtesy of UF Department of Emergency Management).

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Pool chairs are strewn about after a thunderstom Friday at the Florida Pool, near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Photo courtesy of UF Department of Emergency Management).

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Several trees were knocked over during a thunderstorm Friday at the University of Florida, blocking roads and causing damage to buildings on campus. (Photo courtesy of UF Department of Emergency Management).

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(Photo courtesy of UF Department of Emergency Management)

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A cleanup crew clears the road Friday after a storm near Sisler Hall at the University of Florida (Photos courtesy of UF Department of Emergency Management).

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A cleanup crew clears fallen tree branches Friday on the lawn of the former president's home on University Avenue. (Photo by Li Stalder).

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Debris is scattered along the driveway of the former president's home Friday on University Avenue. (Photo by Li Stalder).

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The thunderstorm Friday resulted in a broken window in the stairwell on the fourth floor of Sisler Hall. (Photo by Xiaofeng Chen)

Severe thunderstorms swept through Gainesville on Friday afternoon, causing damage in several locations at the University of Florida campus and knocking out power on University Avenue.

Trees were reported down near Yon Hall, which is part of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, according to the University of Florida Police Department.

The storm also caused damage at the nearby recreation center pool. Several trees were also reported fallen in the roadways near Buckman & Union roads on campus, blocking traffic.

Additionally, several large trees were reportedly blown over in front of the former president's house on University Avenue. The storm also knocked out power for more than 4,000 Gainesville Regional Utilities customers Friday, according to GRU. Power has since been restored.

Kari Basso, a UF chemistry professor, was at her desk when the storm passed through campus.

“The wind came in really, really strong and really, really fast,” she said.

Basso said she saw the trees bend over, and then the rain came down hard in sheets, but it went by quickly.

She said it was a bit stressful trying to get in contact with her family all over town.

“I was constantly looking at the radar in perspective to where they were and wondering, you know – texting and calling to make sure everybody was safe,” she said.