Georgetown’s Hilltop Campus experiences emergency power outage

A flood in the basement of Georgetown University’s Pre-Clinical Science Building caused a power outage at university’s Hilltop Campus, also affecting the Dahlgren Memorial Library and the Basic Science Building.

A 2 p.m. update on the school’s Planning and Facilities Management website said an emergency generator is expected to be installed overnight to support sensitive research equipment, but a full restoration time is still unknown.

Bret McLean, the mechanical technician responsible for restoring power, said around 6 p.m. that the outage is very serious and crews will continue working through the night. He said power could be restored as early as tomorrow morning.

Access to the affected buildings is restricted. The Georgetown Office of Emergency Management told lab staff to ensure sensitive laboratory equipment was set to prevent damage from a power surge once electricity was restored.

In an email, the office said employees who need assistance should contact onsite staff wearing red vests or the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

The emergency management team also instructed employees whose workspaces are affected to use alternative locations on campus, including Suite 401 in the Reiss Science Building, which provides workspaces and a lounge.

Classes in the affected buildings should follow faculty continuity plans, the office said in its email. Faculty may request alternate classrooms through the Office of the University Registrar, it noted.

The school first reported the outage to the campus community at about 10:30 a.m.