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A number of situations can result to serious water damage in a university, including overland flooding or internal factors such as clogged drains, burst water pipes, leaky roofs or damaged windows. When water damage happens in a university which is made up of several buildings and facilities, the type of damage and resulting risks will vary depending on which building was affected. 

However, in all cases, there will always be damage to property whether it's structural damage or damage to the objects inside the building such as computers, furniture, multimedia equipment, laboratory equipment, and etcetera. 

There may also be damage to school records such as admissions files, financial documents, or student's transcripts. Potential damage to the university's library and other valuable collections is another major concern when water emergencies occur.

In the event of a water crisis, students, faculty and personnel also face safety risks from various hazards (i.e. electric shock, slipping, falling objects). Aside from this, the incident also impacts the activities and functions held in the affected building so there would be interruptions to classes and other school operations.

Preparedness and Prevention

The first step to any preparedness program is to identify the university's risks to water damage. If it's possible to reduce an identified risk, the university should devise ways to do so. Usually, basic regular building maintenance will eliminate many water damage triggers.

Create a water damage emergency response plan that will identify both short-term and long-term actions. The plan should be easy to follow and flexible to allow responders to act accordingly to address further unexpected occurrences. Identify the university's priorities - which functions, equipment, documents and other materials are the most critical?

Having a well-organized team is also an important part to a successful emergency response. There should be one main decision maker during an emergency. Each identified task will be carried out by selected individuals and headed by a single person.

Also, the university must acquire all necessary supplies for emergency response and contact service providers that can help during water damage emergencies. Partner with local companies ahead of an incident to ensure that help is immediately available whenever it will be needed.

Lastly, educate all staff members and university personnel on the plan. Conduct drills in order to train staff and find out how effective the plan is. The plan should not only be improved upon but also kept up to date.

Recovering from Water Damage

If the event of a flood or water leak, the staff should contact the Facilities Operations immediately to report the incident. Evacuate the area if there any potential hazards present such as electrocution risks. If possible and safe to do so, take action to stop the source of water (shut off the water supply, clear the drain, etc) and try to minimize damage by covering objects and items that are vulnerable to water. 

Here is a list of things to do to aid water damage recovery:

" Follow the university's emergency response plan.

" Shut off utility lines.

" Record the water damage.

" Board up unstable structures.

" Keep good air circulation in the affected building.

" Clean and dry wet items thoroughly.

" Salvage valuable materials, which can usually be restored by conservationists.

" Allow only trained professionals to handle damaged asbestos containing materials.

" Inspect the building's foundation and structures for damage and address problems accordingly. 

Following the water emergency situation, it is important for the clean up to start immediately but remember to always use caution when responding to water damage. Contact a water damage restoration company to assist or handle the entire cleanup effort.