While flooding in the Midwest may have a similar human impact to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, NCAA officials are not expecting a similar impact for student-athletes.

While institutions in all three NCAA divisions have been affected by the record floods, the timing of the disaster created minimal disruption of academic instruction, and therefore the widespread transfer issues and waivers of NCAA rules regarding recruiting and personnel, eligibility and playing and practice seasons are not anticipated.

What may be a factor, said Steve Mallonee, NCAA managing director of membership services, would be situations involving financial aid and extra benefits if, for example, a student-athlete’s family lost a home or had significant flood damage. In the wake of Katrina, the NCAA allowed student-athletes and their families to receive donations to help pay for living expenses and other necessities.

“We are prepared to treat this situation in a similar manner,” Mallonee said.

Several member institutions and conferences have been affected by the floods, including the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and many of its member schools, the University of Iowa and Indiana University.

To communicate with its constituents, the University of Iowa created a blog, on which it posts updates about building closures, cancellations and damage reports as well as information when activities and buildings are reopened. Summer school, suspended last week, is expected to resume – with some classes in different locations – June 23.

Iowa also joined other member institutions in assisting other victims of the flood by bagging sand and sending it to other flood-stricken areas. In Terre Haute, Indiana, student volunteers from Indiana State and Rose-Hulman helped an Indiana State professor clean up her home, and the University solicited volunteers for a flood relief service center. Quincy housed Illinois National Guard soldiers assisting in the flood relief at its Health and Fitness Center and served as an operations base for the American Red Cross.

An incomplete list of institutions and conferences affected by or assisting with the flood follows:

University of Iowa

Indiana State University    

Quincy University

Coe College

Luther College

IIAC

Indiana University

Big Ten Conference