Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect new information received. The original story has remained untouched.

UPDATE (as of 4:55 p.m. Oct. 26)

What happened, how Housing Services will fix it

An email was sent to the residents of Patterson Hall East explaining the situation and the next steps the school will take.

The order of events is explained in the email as follows: “A PVC pipe that is a part of the fire sprinkler system ruptured on the (third) floor of the odd wing in Patterson Hall East. This set off the fire alarm system and evacuated the entire building.”

The email then explains how the following few days will proceed in terms of recovery.

It reads, “The Building Services Team is completing the water extraction process in all (affected) rooms still this afternoon … Staff will be stopping by units each day to look at impact and continue to dry out floors, walls and ceilings affected by the flood.”

The email also states that electricians will be going through the building to ensure all electric systems are operational. The WiFi in Patterson Hall East is also not fully functioning, which Residential Services hopes will be fixed by tomorrow.

It is unclear in the email whether students’ personal items will be replaced without renters’ insurance or their parent or guardians’ homeowners’ insurance. However, the email encourages affected students to make lists of any damaged items in need of replacing and gather all original receipts they can.

Students affected

Devon Smith, a first-year computer sciences major, was there during the flooding. He explained that he was asleep at the time the fire alarm went off. He woke up to a text from his friend Attacus Koschier, a first-year biological sciences major, asking if he was OK.

Smith described the state of the hallways: “(I) caught glimpses and it looked soaked, the main hallway of odds, and looked like all the rooms were flooded.”

He then left the building, after being told by a CA that some of the flooding had gone to the second floor, but that it wasn’t as bad.

Koschier explained that they heard from a friend who lived in Patterson Hall a year prior that the building had flooded before, calling it a frequent occurrence.

First-year mechatronics engineering major Don Cajica expressed concern that NIU would not replace water-damaged items. Citing the Housing and Residential Services Contract, Cajica said, “The school can potentially refuse to reimburse damages to personal property sustained on NIU rooms.”

The NIU Housing Handbook provides more clarity on this subject.

According to the handbook, “Northern Illinois University and Housing and Residential Services cannot be held responsible for damage to your personal property.” The handbook also encourages residents to have personal property insurance.

Associate director of Institutional Communications Joe King commented on the effects the flooding may have on residents.

“Some students may need to be displaced but as of now it’s too early to tell if any need to be,” King said. “There are no reports of injuries but this disruption is an inconvenience.”

Questions or concerns?

For residents affected by the flooding, as well as those seeking more information, contact Housing and Residential Services via email at [email protected] or by calling 815-753-1525.

DeKALB (1:30 p.m.) – Due to a pipe burst at around 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Patterson Hall East experienced flooding on the third floor, causing a deluge of disruption for residents on the north side of the building.

Joe King, associate director of Institutional Communications, explained the cause of the flooding.

“What caused the flooding was a fire sprinkler,” King said. “They are speculating it was a malfunction but they are speculating. We’re awaiting on contractors to give a definite answer.”

He also said that faculty in Patterson Hall East shut the water off as soon as they could, but don’t know how long the water had been running and causing flooding.

The flooding was mostly contained in the room where the pipe burst, but King said that water did leak out into the hallways.

What happens now?

At the time of writing, damages are still being assessed and the water is being pumped out of the building. King said it’s too soon to estimate the cost of repairs.