May 29, 2009

Around noon on Wednesday May 20, 2009, a dump truck hit the fire hydrant behind Wurster Hall, sending a wall of water into the landscape courtyard. Within minutes water began to leak through the emergency doors to the Environmental Design Library and the at-grade windows in the library’s bound journals room. Water also filled a below-grade entry at the north side of the building to almost five feet before breaking through a set of metal doors into the first floor and flooding nearly the full length of the building, including the computer server room, the mechanical room, the north elevator shafts, and Ramona’s Café, to a depth of 2–3 inches. In the library, quick-thinking staff and student volunteers immediately started moving area rugs and furniture, and when it was obvious the water was continuing to pour in, moved books, folios, and journals from bottom shelves to higher locations, tables, and book trucks.

An hour later the water was shut off and campus physical facilities and library preservation staff brought wet-vacuums to suck up the standing water in the library. Library staff and construction workers (from the company building the law library whose sub-contractor was driving the dump truck) began removing wet carpet tiles from the library floor. All the while, graduation ceremonies were taking place in the central courtyard. Late that afternoon a water disaster recovery company, hired by the construction company, brought additional wet-vacs and installed dozens of de-humidifiers and extra-strength air-movers in the building to speed the drying process and prevent mold.

Recovery company employees worked in the library and in Wurster's first floor throughout the night, overloading the library's electrical power with so much equipment. Thursday a campus electrician spent the day labeling outlets and trying to prevent the tripping of additional breakers. The construction company is assuming full responsibility for the accident and will fund the clean-up. Fortunately, no library books or journals were damaged, and other than flooring the building itself sustained no significant permanent damage.

Since the accident, library staff have worked around the clock with Preservation staff and the recovery crew to monitor humidity and prevent the growth of mold. The thousands of volumes moved to avoid the flood have been retrieved and put in order and are ready to be reshelved as soon as shelves (removed so wet floors under them can dry) can be re-installed and conditions are safe for the collection. Wurster Hall facilities staff are still taking inventory of other building damage, and repairs will most likely continue for the duration of the summer.

Library Service

As of Friday, May 29, the library is open for circulation service only, Monday through Friday, from 1–4:45 p.m., during which staff will page requests for books. The bound journals area sustained more damage and is more difficult for staff to access, so the library is not certain it can retrieve requests for bound journals. To request items please call 510-642-4818 or drop off requests in person at the Environmental Design Library circulation desk. Please do not send e-mail. Allow 15 minutes for staff to search for items. There will be no reference or other service, and no access to library computers, until further notice. Check the library website for updates.

Important Safety Notice

In light of new information regarding the life and safety risk of the flooding, it is imperative that EVERYONE EVACUATE THE BUILDING WHEN THE ALARM SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. Even if you do not perceive an immediate risk, if the alarm is sounding, you must leave the building, and you cannot return until emergency personnel have given the all-clear.

There were two major potential risks with the recent flood, both involving the flooding of the north mechanical room. If the water had reached the high-voltage equipment, there could have been a large explosion that could have affected a large area of the north side of the building. The second risk was that if water had reached the electrical panels in the room, the water could have become electrified, potentially electrocuting anyone who was standing in the water.

Over the next several months, facilities staff will evaluate the Wurster emergency response protocol and take steps to improve response capacity. This will include improved planning and staff training.

Second Time Wurster Has Flooded

“About 5 p.m. Feb. 10, [1995,] a break in an 8 inch pressurized water main uphill from Wurster poured water into the lower levels of the building, flooding classrooms and labs, imperiling electrical and elevator equipment, and threatening library collections and preparations for an exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Architecture Department.”

Read the full Berkeleyan story.