A sudden flood from a burst pipe forced eight Colgate University students out of their residence at the Townhouse Apartments this week after water poured through the ceiling, damaging rooms and prompting an emergency response from the Campus Safety Department and facilities staff on Sunday, Jan. 25.
The exact cause of the pipe burst remains unclear, but residents speculated it may be related to the age of the building’s plumbing or to the extreme cold on the day of the incident, which coincided with an intense snowstorm. The freezing weather could have put additional pressure on the pipes.
The incident occurred in Townhouse 3A, where residents say water first appeared in one corner of the ceiling before spreading rapidly through light fixtures and cracks. Junior Sonia Erbe, a resident of 3A, described the initial moments of the flood at around 9 p.m.
“It started in one spot, and then anywhere there was a tiny crack or a light fixture, water was just pouring out,” Erbe said. “Then the ceiling started cracking all over, and it was just coming down everywhere.”
Another resident, junior Kiran George, said she and her roommates were off-site when they first heard about the flooding.
“We were actually at dinner with our friends when our friend called us and said, ‘Our house is literally flooding,’” George said. “So we ran over, and when we got there, it just kept getting worse.”
By the time they arrived, George said there were already inches of water covering the floor.
“There was like two or three inches of water, and someone’s shower shoes were literally floating,” she said. “I started unplugging fridges and microwaves and putting people’s stuff up on beds because I was worried we were going to get shocked with the water rising and all the power still on.”
According to Erbe, Campus Safety and facilities staff arrived within about 15 minutes of being notified.
“They all came in and were just standing there looking at it,” Erbe said. “And then they told us we had two minutes to salvage our things.”
George said she was concerned about how long it took for the situation to stabilize.
“I was honestly more concerned that they weren’t doing anything to shut the water or the power off for like 40 minutes,” she said. “It was pretty chaotic.”
Residents were instructed to grab essential belongings before the townhouse’s water and electricity were shut off. Initially, they were told they would be moved into another townhouse. After discussions with Residential Life, the group was ultimately relocated to an empty nearby unit, Townhouse 2B, reducing the amount they needed to move.
The following day, facilities crews returned with industrial equipment to remove standing water. Shortly after, parts of the ceiling were opened up for inspection.
“They told us they’re going to have to redo all the piping,” Erbe said. “So we couldn’t stay there.”
Students were later informed they needed to fully move their belongings out by the end of the day. The relocation was on Monday, Jan. 26, when classes were cancelled due to a weather-related campus closure, turning what Erbe described as a nightmare into an all-day moving effort.
Still, she said the supportive response from friends made a difficult situation easier.
“Members from the [Colgate Swimming and Diving] team came and helped us,” Erbe said. “Our friends in the [Colgate Resolutions] helped too. It was actually really nice to see everyone show up.”
In a statement, Terra Peckskamp, assistant vice president for residential planning and programs, said the University moved quickly to secure housing for the affected students.
“Temporary housing was immediately identified for all impacted students,” Peckskamp said. “We currently don’t have an exact timeline for the repairs. We have also offered impacted students the opportunity to request specific long-term housing for the spring semester, and some students have gone that route.”
Colgate did not provide a timeline for when Townhouse 3A might be habitable again this semester. Regarding damaged personal belongings, Peckskamp said students should document any losses and consult their own insurance policies.
“Students who experience lost or damaged items for any reason should immediately document what items are impacted – photos, lists, receipts if available – and consult their renter’s insurance and/or homeowner’s insurance policy,” she said. “Colgate University will review each situation, but per University policy – outlined in the Student Handbook – Colgate does not cover loss, damage or theft of personal belongings.”
Erbe said that while the situation was stressful, she and her housemates are relieved to be settled in their new space.
“At the end of the day, we’re all together in a new house now,” Erbe said. “It was chaotic, but people really showed up for us. That part was kind of amazing.”
For now, the affected students will remain in Townhouse 2B while the University assesses and repairs the damage to their original residence.
