MISSOULA - University of Montana students went back into Aber Hall on Friday, one week after the building flooded.
A pipe burst on the top floor of Aber Hall which forced staff who work in lower-level offices, as well as the students who live on the upper floors, to evacuate. Many Aber Hall residents were staying at hotels this week but on Friday, students were seen moving their belongings back in.
MTN's Emily Brown met with many students as they made trips into the building. One student shared that their room on the eighth floor was fine, but they heard rooms on the floor above were worse off.
UM spokesman Dave Kuntz says the restoration company is still working in some parts of the building and over the next few weeks restoration crews will be completing "minor repairs." He added it's been "determined every dorm room to be safe for return. Every room has had remediation steps completed as necessary, and a complete...cleaning of the tile floors."
New carpet will be installed in some hallways of the building over the spring break week, later this month.
"We are very grateful to all of the students impacted by this event, and the patience they showed over the past week. That patience ensured the University could complete the clean-up in less than one week. We also want to thank all of the University employees and ServePro, the restoration company, for working around the clock to clean the building after such a substantial flood," Kuntz stated.
