University of Maryland Restores Heat, Urges Students to Return to Campus
The University of Maryland, College Park, has successfully restored heat and hot water to over 100 buildings after experiencing outages caused by severe cold weather. The outages occurred twice within two days, prompting university leaders to advise students to leave campus during the second incident.
This second outage lasted overnight, affecting residence halls and dining services. In a campus-wide email sent Thursday afternoon, the administration announced that heating and hot water services had been reinstated. However, officials warned of potential further “intermittent outages” due to continued extremely low temperatures expected through the weekend.
Timeline of Events
- First Outage: Announced on Wednesday morning, with a brief resolution later that same day.
- Second Outage: Occurred overnight, again impacting residential and dining facilities.
- Class Cancellations: All classes have been canceled through Friday due to the ongoing situation.
Support for Students Remaining on Campus
In response to the cold and outages, university staff gathered additional blankets and set up warming centers in residence halls. An email directed to students emphasized the importance of staying indoors and wearing appropriate layers. It also discouraged the use of candles or unauthorized heating devices.
Future Infrastructure Improvements
Looking ahead, university officials mentioned a new permanent central energy plant slated to become operational later this year. This facility aims to create a more resilient and sustainable heating and cooling system for the campus.
Commitment to Safety
University staff are prioritizing safety during this extreme cold wave. Bob Pils, the executive director of facilities management, highlighted the importance of providing adequate breaks for workers in harsh conditions. His team is proactively managing campus conditions by ensuring windows are closed and thermostats are correctly set to minimize heat loss.
As the community navigates these challenges, the University of Maryland reinforces its commitment to the safety and well-being of its students and staff. Updates will continue to be provided as conditions evolve.
