Clogged storm drains cause water hazards

 
The stench of sewage paired with seeping and gushing water filled hallways and offices of Rodney G. Higgins Hall, Isaac Greggs Band Hall and T.H. Harris Hall, Monday, caused by old storm drain back up.
The Southern University custodial staff were met in Higgins Hall by three inches of water flowing from a mechanical closet in Room 121.
According to a custodial worker speaking under anonymity, the initial cause referred to the condition of the plumbing in the building and it was confirmed that the water was sewage water.
He revealed the university is trying to conserve funds by shutting off the water on Friday evenings and that may be the cause for the piping issue, causing the custodial staff to clean up water Monday mornings.
The staff immediately began the cleanup with wet vacuums in Higgins Hall.
The custodial worker said they had four wet vacuums working but, there was no count of how many were broken. He concluded the cleanup would have been expedited with more equipment.
Eli Guillory, executive director of facilities services, said the flooding in the halls were caused by old backed up storm drains.
“The flooding was caused by old storm drains. The lines have since been cleared,”
Guillory said.
Guillory said the likelihood of the situation reoccurring is unknown.
“Due to the age of the pipes, I don’t know if it could happen again,” Guillory said.
Since the water in Higgins Hall covered the hall from Room 107 to 119, students
were unable to attend classes on the first floor of the building.
The political science and history departments left the cancellation of classes to the respective professor’s discretion.
Chelsea Muskelly, a business management major from Seattle, said custodial workers informed her that classes would be cancelled.
Jimmie Herring, a senior political science major from Monroe posed the question, who would want to sit in a flooded classroom?
“I feel we should have classes because I do not want to sit in a classroom that would affect my learning experience,” Herring said.
Deondranique Glasper, a senior political science major from Franklin, La., said “We should not have class since we can not navigate to our classes anyway.”
Jaleesa Rowland, a senior political science major from Marion, La., agreed with Glasper. 
Professor Albert Samuels allowed his class to sign the roll and cancelled Monday’s class due to the water.
Jasmine Henderson, a senior English major from Lake Charles, was in Samuel’s 9:30 a.m. class and said she would spend the time studying.
“Now, I have more time to study for my test at 11 o’clock,” Henderson said.
The water in Harris Hall affected the hallway that houses the Graduate School, Title III, Nathaniel Harrison’s office and the Office of Student Media.
The water affected Greggs Hall, including the office of band director Lawrence Jackson.
Most of the custodial staff worked all day utilizing four wet vacuums to clean up the water, followed by a mop, concluding the process with fans to dry floors.