The investigation into Monday’s flooding in Tolman Hall is still ongoing. The damage to the building is still being assessed by Rapid Response.
The investigation currently involves more than one suspect, according to Vice President of Student Services John Marshall. Video surveillance, card swipes and conversations with potential suspects and witnesses are all being assessed in the investigation to get the most accurate picture of who caused the flood and how the crime occurred.
“The challenge now is allowing Public Safety to do their job well,” Marshall said.
Rapid Response is monitoring humidity levels in the east wing of Tolman Hall, running dehumidifiers and fans to restore the building to safe conditions.
Marshall said there is not a current estimate of when residents can return to their rooms, as the operation is running based on safety conditions rather than a set deadline.
“We will get to the bottom of this,” Marshall said.
On Monday, April 22 at approximately 12:15 p.m. the fire alarms went off in Tolman Hall, causing confused residents to gather outside. A water pipe had exploded on the third floor and flooded the east wing of the building.
During the flooding, panicked residents ran back up to their rooms to rescue personal belongings and pack towels under their doors in an attempt to protect their rooms.
Firefighters and water damage control arrived to ensure the safety of the wing as Residence Life provided an update, saying the water was up to their ankles.
Once the wing was deemed safe for entry, residents were instructed to pack their things and relocate. Some were moved to other rooms on campus while others moved in with local family members.
The full evacuations began at 5 p.m. on Monday. Carts were brought in from residence halls all over campus, and FedEx trucks were parked in the closest residential parking lot. Students on upper floors tossed or lowered their possessions from the balconies into the hands of people waiting on the lawn below. The University Center was filled with students getting their Mavcards re-encoded or waiting for word on their housing situation.
Students are currently displaced indefinitely.
