Flooding

Flooding can happen at any time. Serious water damage can occur from many sources:  burst pipes, fire sprinkler activation, clogged drains, broken skylights and windows, construction projects, major rainstorms, water main breaks, or loss of power to sump pumps.

In the case of flooding, notify Campus Facilities Operations or UTHSC PD immediately and give the following information:

• Your name
• Telephone number
• Location of the leak (building, floor, room number, etc.)
• Severity of the leak
• Indicate whether any people or equipment are involved or are in imminent danger

Safety first: Evacuate the area. Do not attempt to shut down or save electronic equipment,as you can be electrocuted. However, you may be asked by facilities staff to assist in the location of sensitive equipment and how to shut it down.

Safety first: If hazardous laboratory materials are compromised or threatened, the local HAZMAT team should be involved in the response. Facilities may also need to shut off the electricity in water-exposed areas, as electricity flows easily through water and poses a lethal risk. In some cases, trained laboratory personnel may need to be called in to shut off sensitive laboratory instruments. Some equipment may have potentially hidden high voltage lines that power various systems. Trained laboratory staff may know where those voltage lines are, while first responders may overlook them.