Maintenance crews were dispatched to the scene to control the debris.
At about 4:15 p.m. Sunday, a section of plumbing within the first floor ceiling of Dougan House burst, flooding a mod section in the residence hall.
The water leaked through to the ground floor, where a pool of water and ceiling tiles remained by •7 p.m.
Residents were notified of the situation via email and were advised to “proceed with caution” in areas affected by the flooding. Emergency maintenance crews were dispatched to contain and remove the water and debris, shutting off heat to the hall in the process.
The flooding, which maintenance crews said was a result of frozen pipes that had burst in the ceiling, began in a room shared by two residents, who were not present at the time. Both residents and their possessions were temporarily moved until cleanup is complete.
“Accidents like this happen all the time,” Ashlynne Hurlow, a sophomore studying communication, said. “A couple of weeks ago our boiler actually wasn’t working, so we didn’t have heat during Sibs Weekend. It just seems like bad things seem to continuously happen to us.”
Though heating was restored in the evening, some residents remain doubtful about the condition of the facility.
William Salter, a sophomore studying psychology, was returning from an evening out when he noticed the pool of water on the ground floor of his building.
“Well, it’s the ‘Dirty South.’ ” Salter said. “I mean, these buildings are old … so I guess you can expect that. These buildings really should be demolished and made into new dorms.”
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Darian Randolph, a sophomore studying journalism, said that she is skeptical about the safety of residents in the hall, which was built in 1970 and has not yet been renovated.
“After hearing about (the water break), I guess I’m going to be a bit more cautious.” Randolph said. “I’m moving off campus, so I don’t have to worry about this next year.”
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