Loss of Electrical Power
If electrical power is lost in your residence hall:
- Call the Department of Residential Facilities Service Center at 301-314-9675; do not assume others have called
- Stay calm; stay in your room or go to your room or other place where you feel safe and comfortable
- Turn off and unplug computer, radio, television, refrigerator and all other personal belongings powered by electricity
- Do not unplug your land-line telephone
- Use a flashlight; do not light candles or otherwise cause fire or flame
- In most situations in residence halls, electrical power should be restored in a matter of minutes or hours
- When power is restored, check equipment that you unplugged
If a storm is approaching or you have other warning that electrical power could be lost:
- Inform friends and neighbors and remind them of the safest places in your building to move to in the event a storm approaches campus (i.e., basement level or interior space within lower floor)
- Listen to AM radio or television news or monitor the National Weather Service reports at http://www.nws.noaa.gov
- Save work on your laptop or personal computer, then shut down your machine and disconnect it from the walljack
- Keep a flashlight handy
- Unplug radio, appliances, television, etc. to avoid power surge problems
- Avoid use of elevators (avoids being trapped in the event loss of electrical power shuts off the elevator)
- Stay away from windows and glass
