University of Virginia Library

Summer Students Help
In Camille Rescue Work

By Fred Heblich
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Students at the University acting
independently and through
fraternities and service organizations,
have long been volunteering
their services to worthwhile
activities and projects in Charlottesville
and surrounding areas.

For the past two weeks 30 or 40
students a day, along with some
faculty members, have been working
in Nelson County to aid the
victims of the disastrous flood
created by Hurricane Camile.

With the help of several local
churches, the University Flood
Committee has been established to
aid in the flood recovery activities
in the Nelson County area. Every
morning students have traveled to
the area and spent the day searching
for bodies, sorting clothes,
cleaning houses, moving garbage
and debris, and digging mud.

Rough estimates put the death
toll at close to 150, and the damage
to property at $118 million.

Robert T. Canevari, Assistant
Dean of Students Affairs,
announced that the administration
is planning to contact the fraternities
and service clubs on the
Grounds, asking them to help in the
flood relief movement.

President Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
has sent letters to all deans and
department heads asking them to
"advise as many of the faculty and
students that any one day's service
would be deeply appreciated by our
stricken neighbors."

On Sunday, Aug. 31, President
Shannon and Mr. Canevari toured
the flooded area to access the
situation.

"It's really something else. I
can't believe what happened," said
Mr. Canevari. "There are trees
broken like matchsticks and piles of
debris 100 feet high." He described
the area as "a state of chaos."