Updated at 4:51 p.m.
This post was written by Hatchet Staff Writer Priya Anand.
A water leak caused by a hole in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning supply line caused rooms on the seventh and sixth floors of Mitchell Hall to fill with water, a University official said Monday afternoon.
University spokeswoman Michelle Sherrard said the flood was stabilized within 30 minutes of students reporting the problem.
“Students in rooms that experienced water damage declined relocation since the water was quickly removed,” Sherrard said in an e-mail. “Ceiling tiles were replaced, or in some cases left open to facilitate drying. Dehumidifiers will run on Floors 5, 6 and 7, to be followed by any needed housekeeping efforts.”
Some seventh-floor Mitchell residents said their rooms filled with over 2 inches of standing water.
Water was clearly present on the sixth floor as well.
A Twitter account run by RPM tweeted around 10:30 a.m. that students on floors two through seven should unplug electronics.
“The Facilities Alert – Water leak in Mitchell Hall btw rooms 736-743. Residents in these tiers on floors 2-7 should UNPLUG ELECTRONICS,” the tweet said.
Students on the seventh floor said they were awoken by the sounds of running water.
“I heard the sound of water flowing and woke up,” sophomore Rachel Eisenberg said. “I stood up and my whole room was flooded.”
Eisenberg said a representative from GW Housing Programs told her she would be relocated until her room was cleared. Other students said they received no warning or instructions about entering their rooms.
“I assume after they’re done soaking up the water I’ll be able to get back in my room. I’m still confused as to what happened,” junior Akhilesh Pillalamarri said.
Sophomore Robin Janofsky described the water as “ankle-high” on the seventh floor and said rooms on the sixth floor, where she lives, had “dirty water pouring from the ceiling” in an e-mail Monday morning.
Students with damaged electronics or property were provided with reimbursement forms, Sherrard said. If students still need the forms, Sherrard said they could call 202-994-1116.
