When University of Connecticut students completed their final exams on Friday, they were met with the prospect of moving out of their dorm rooms in a downpour.
The university’s on-campus housing officially closes at noon on Monday. Until then, the students have the weekend to pack up and head home.
Elizabeth Dowd said the day she moved her freshman son Devin into the dorms it rained, too. So, when she saw Friday’s forecast, she came prepared.
“Every time I come up here it rains,” said Dowd, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. “We put everything in plastic garbage bags.”
“I was really disappointed because I knew it would be tough with the weather moving everything and all of our clothes would be soaked,” her son added.
Many packed up their possessions in the late morning and early afternoon, before the worst weather set in.
“I knew the 100 percent rain was coming this afternoon, so I knew I had to get up early this morning,” Paul Painter, Devin’s roommate who is also from Phillipsburg, said.
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Their arms overflowing with blankets and baskets, TVs and toiletries, parents and students tried to make the most of every trip up and down the dorm stairs to avoid the elements.
“Basically get in and out as fast as you can, not bringing the truck, pack everything I can in the car so it’s all closed up, extra set of clothes to be dry on the way home,” said Philip Jackson. of Old Saybrook, who came to move his son Kyle out of one of the freshman dorms.
Some made the mad dash for the car as the skies opened up.
“Just trying to get everything in as fast as I can,” Cherrise Kenton, of East Hartford, said.
Amanda Sorvillo, of East Hampton, found the silver lining in the dreary day.
“I don’t have to wear a jacket because I’m just warming myself up by going up and down the stairs,” she said.
Many other students gave Friday’s weather a failing grade.
“It’s awful. It’s already hard moving out and then the rain makes it 10 times worse,” Kenton said.
