The University of Maryland, College Park campus found itself with reduced heat and no hot water in numerous buildings due to a significant steam outage. According to WBAL-TV, the school's facilities management is actively working on solutions and has already identified the source of the problem. While the full extent of the affected buildings has not been disclosed, the school has assured that more guidance is on the way for residential students.
Amid the freezing temperatures, dining halls on campus are expected to experience delays due to the outage. The UMD Police Department reported that temperatures inside buildings are now on the rise, following efforts to rectify the heating issues. A Cold Weather Advisory for the DMV area remained in effect until 11 a.m., with certain locales grappling with sub-freezing temperatures, an added challenge to students and staff dealing with the outage that was pointed out by WJLA.
The school's statement encouraged students and staff to limit time outdoors and follow emergency guidelines to stay warm. This came in response to the challenges posed by the significant steam outage, compounded by the already demanding cleanup necessitated by Superstorm Fern. Consequently, classes were called off for today to allow for continued recovery efforts across the campus.
Despite the disruption, the university is hopeful that normal indoor temperatures and hot water service will be restored by the early afternoon.
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