Next step in flood damage: Assessing responsibility

Matt Heistand Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshmen Kelly Young (left) and Stephanie Joseph sift through flood-damaged items including a family album yesterday in Coronado Residence Hall. Students are still waiting to hear if they will be reimbursed for the cost of damages caused by a flood Tuesday night.

But the ordeal left behind broken computers, ruined clothes, destroyed books and angry students.

"My computer is gone and half my clothes are gone," said undeclared freshman Adam Abramson, a fourth-floor resident. "All I have left is a monitor and a keyboard."

Marketing freshman George Martin and his roommate, media arts freshman Lee Sanudo, said they lost a computer, a compact disc player and other miscellaneous items. Martin said about $1,200 worth of their belongings were destroyed in the flood.

The toilet travesty began about 8:30 p.m. in the bathroom of Room 425, when retailing and consumer studies freshman Denise Schuler said she and her roommate heard a strange noise coming from their toilet.

Schuler said she called Residence Life's emergency maintenance service and Coronado's front desk, and a resident assistant came to her room to investigate the problem.

According to Schuler, the RA called emergency maintenance again, and someone talked him through fixing the leaky valve. The RA tried to tighten the valve, but it broke off and water began gushing out of a pipe behind the toilet, Schuler said.

Residents had to evacuate the building while Tucson Fire Department salvage teams shut off the water and cleaned up the spill. About midnight, students were allowed to return to their rooms.

Schuler said damage to her personal items was in the thousands of dollars.

Martin and Sanudo said they are counting on the University of Arizona to reimburse them for the damage.

"I'm not really mad at the school, but I do need a computer," Martin said.

Flyers posted throughout the hall advertised a meeting Wednesday night for students affected by the flooding to voice their concerns to Coronado Hall Director Kelly Horn.

Horn discussed the flood damage and told residents she didn't know yet if they would be compensated by the university for their losses, Martin said.

Only about 12 students attended the meeting, probably because it was Rush Night, he said.

In all, about 60 rooms sustained damage in the flooding, said James Van Arsdel, the director of Residence Life and University Housing.

Several carpets hold water stains, some ceiling tiles are damaged, and the halls are permeated by a strong, musty odor.

According to Van Arsdel, permanent building damage was minimal compared to personal item damage.

"In most situations, the student property is the biggest concern," Van Arsdel said. "If you had a computer on the floor, you have a big problem."

Steve Holland, director of the UA's Department of Risk Management and Safety, said adjusters are still evaluating the total damage caused by the flooding.

Van Arsdel said the university has not yet determined if students will be reimbursed for their losses. A decision is expected soon, he said.

Holland said hall residents' personal belongings are not covered by university insurance. If students are to be reimbursed, the money is going to have to come from some other university funds, he said.

Some homeowner's insurance policies cover the possessions of students who are attending college and live on campus.

Abramson said he's sure his parents will sue the university if he's not compensated.

"When the firemen came into our rooms, they took all our wet stuff and threw it on the beds," he said.

Abramson said he asked Residence Life to pay for a hotel room Tuesday night because his bed was soaked.

"They said no," Abramson said. "They said it was 'acceptable living.'"

Journalism freshman Christine Sibley said she lost clothes, books, computer software, comforters and a throw rug because of water damage. She said she hopes the university will pay for her losses, and said she may take legal action if it does not.

"It wasn't any of our faults. We were just innocent bystanders."