Fayetteville, Ark. – A sudden water‑valve failure in a bathroom on the middle floors of Reid Hall forced the university to evacuate the residence hall late Thursday night. The leak, which began around 11:30 p.m., sent water flooding several levels of the building, prompting immediate notification of the roughly 450 students who call the hall home.
Evacuation and immediate response
John Thomas, director of communications for the University of Arkansas, said officials believe a malfunctioning valve was the source of the water, though the exact cause remains under investigation. “Residents were immediately notified, and the situation was a little more extreme than we thought, and they needed to be evacuated,” Thomas explained.
Students were given little notice to leave their rooms. Reid Hall resident Chloe Blessing recounted being woken by her resident assistant: “I was sound asleep, and our RA came and told us we had to evacuate because the building was flooding. So we grabbed stuff for school this morning, and I slept in my friend’s dorm.”
Students return to collect belongings
By Friday morning, most students were allowed back into the building to retrieve personal items and continue their studies while cleanup continued. Addison Toben, another resident, said she returned to pick up additional clothing: “Today I came back and got a couple of clothes.”
Some students, such as Ashli Champion, were initially unsure of the severity of the water intrusion. “I didn’t think it was real at first, until I stepped aside and it was a puddle last night,” Champion said. “I could only take stuff to sleep in and some personal items.” Several students described water reaching their ankles as the flood progressed.
University support and ongoing assistance
The university provided temporary housing for students who needed it, while others stayed with friends or sorority sisters. Campus officials continue to coordinate housing assistance for those on the most affected floors, promising that cleanup and restoration efforts will extend through the weekend.
University spokespersons emphasized that safety remains the top priority and that the incident will be reviewed to prevent future occurrences. No injuries were reported, and the university is working with facilities staff to repair the damaged plumbing and address any structural concerns.
Impact on campus life
While the disruption was brief, the incident highlighted the importance of rapid communication and emergency preparedness in student housing. Parents and guardians were kept informed through university alerts, and the campus counseling center offered support for any students experiencing stress from the evacuation.
Reid Hall, one of the larger dormitories on the Fayetteville campus, will resume normal operations once repairs are completed. The university expects the building to be fully functional by early next week, allowing students to settle back into their regular routines.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
