Flooding disrupts Eigenmann Hall

A clogged pipe caused a flood through three stories of Eigenmann Hall Thursday afternoon, including three lobbies and two elevator shafts.\nActing Residence Manager Bridget Stenger said the flood started at approximately 1:15 p.m. when a drain pipe overflowed on the second floor. Maintenance crews were draining water from the air conditioning system in preparation for the winter season when the blockage occurred. Water soaked the elevator lobby on that floor and ran downstairs to the first floor lobby, where it was mostly contained. \nMaintenance crews quickly started cleaning up the water, using mattress pads to soak up the initial effects of the flood and then mopping up the rest. No damage was found to any of the floors or walls affected, and no student rooms were flooded. \n"We'll just have a lot of laundry," Stenger laughed.\nBesides the water, which covered the entire elevator lobby area on both floors, two of the four elevators in the residence hall were shut down. Stenger said the elevator repair crew suggested shutting down the shaft as a precautionary measure, but no damage was evident at the time. All four elevators were expected to be active by this morning. \nDespite the several inches of rain Bloomington endured Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Area Manager for Environmental Operation Michele Hacker said the flood was unrelated to the weather.