Alerts & Utility Outages
Service Outages & Impacts
Stay informed about scheduled and unplanned outages. Below are our latest updates on outages. If you reside in the affected Residence Halls, please check your university email for detailed information and instructions on how this may impact you.
| Date | Issue | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024, From 10 AM - 12 PM | Steam Outage - Impacting Hot Water | South Hill | Planned |
An outage occurs when a major service in a building is unavailable for an extended period. There are two types of outages:
Scheduled Outages
These are planned maintenance activities where a major system is temporarily shut down by our maintenance teams from Residential Facilities or Facilities Management.
This is done for preventative maintenance or to address specific issues.
Unscheduled or Emergency Outages
These occur when a major system malfunctions or goes offline unexpectedly, resulting in disruptions to building services. Typically, our team responds to emergencies with the next available staff or within the same day or same 24-hour period.
Examples: Power out entire room, no A/C, person stuck in elevator, no lights at all
Take action: Alert others, report it (call the Service Center), leave the area
Types of Services
The card access system controls entry to buildings and rooms using electronic key cards. In the event of an outage, Residential Facilities staff will modify doors with card readers to allow students to access the building using their bedroom keys.
Air conditioning and heating systems regulate indoor temperature. An outage may result in temporary discomfort, and until the issue is resolved, you may need to use other options, like opening windows or using a fan.
An outage with phone or data service can disrupt your ability to go online or make phone calls.
An electricity outage can result in loss of power to devices and essential services, affecting lighting, internet service, HVAC systems, and other essentials.
An elevator outage means you'll need to use the stairs until Facilities Management has fixed the issue.
Fire alarms and sprinklers keep you safe in case of fire. If either system is not fully operational, the building will enter Fire Watch. During Fire Watch, staff members will conduct regular rounds of the building to quickly detect any life safety emergencies and ensure everyone evacuates safely.
Floods and leaks can cause significant damage. Promptly addressing these issues is essential to prevent property damage and health hazards, ensuring the safety of the building.
A steam outage can stop heating and hot water, causing discomfort until repairs are completed.
A water outage affects the availability of clean water for sinks, toilets, showers, and laundry, necessitating the use of alternative facilities until service is restored.