Caruthers/UI Water Damage Repairs Completed – FAQ
Students to move in on Sunday, Jan 14, at noon
Below are the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) concerning the minor water damage that occurred on campus on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, due to freezing temperatures throughout the region. In particular, two residence halls were affected, including the lower level apartment of Caruthers House and the first floor of University Inn (UI). Fortunately, due to around-the-clock efforts, less damage than estimated, and working closely with professional vendors to assess, mitigate, and repair the problems quickly, we were able to repair the situation effectively and ahead of schedule. Students can move back to residence halls on Sunday, Jan. 14, as originally planned, and hotel stays will not be necessary.
Q: Why were we able to fix the problems ahead of schedule?
A: University staff members caught the problem when it happened and immediately took the steps necessary to stop the flow of water, extract it, and to bring in skilled vendors to expedite in the drying process. Professionals were onsite immediately to supervise the project and advise university staff in determining the scope of damage. As a result, we were able to make repairs efficiently and invite first-floor students to move back to their rooms on Sunday, Jan. 14, at noon.
Q: Why, initially, did you think it would take longer to fix?
A: At first, we really didn’t know the full scope of the project, but we didn’t want to cut corners. We wanted to fix the problem quickly, but more importantly, we wanted to do it correctly. We wanted to do the right thing to provide a healthy living environment for our students. We did what needed to be done quickly, efficiently and safely.
Q: What caused the water leaks?
A: On January 8, extremely cold temperatures caused a water leakage in a number of campus facilities, including the Health & Life Science Building, Armory, Armstrong Concert Hall, University Inn (UI) and Caruthers House.
Q: What work was done to repair the damage?
A: In affected areas of Caruthers House and UI, water was removed from floors, carpet tiles were dried and room furniture was moved to the center of rooms. The university applied best-practices in the field of water mitigation. Wallboard was cut, insulation was removed and replaced, new wallboard was installed, and rooms were thoroughly cleaned.
Q: What did you do with personal items that got wet?
A: Any wet or damaged personalized items found in rooms, like clothes or area rugs, were bagged, inventoried, and placed over at the Bob Evans Building. Students may view those items over at the site and throw away materials that need to be replaced.
Q: What do I do if I have damaged personal items?
A: Any student with damaged personal items can contact Dean of Students Sue Driscoll at sodrisco09@su.edu or (540) 421-6698.
