Viking Fusion Reporter Brad Tilka clarifies ways for students to stay safe in traditional dorms this winter.

Brad Tilka, Viking Fusion Reporter

This past winter, the east coast has seen intense weather with severe snow and rain popping up regularly on weather reports. The affected areas have been hit hard by thunder and rain, snow, and very low temperatures. Some colleges and universities in these areas have experienced winter-related accidents and damage including frozen pipes bursting and even dorm fires from frozen pipes thawing.

Though Georgia is probably not in any imminent danger for snowstorms, it is one of several states along the east coast to have declared a state of emergency due to the winter weather.  Around Berry College the temperature continues to drop also and the question remains—are students safe from potential incidents of bursting pipes and spontaneous fires inside residence halls?

Assistant Dean of Students Lindsay Norman, who oversees the residential life program at Berry, assures any worried students that Res Life staff are put in place to help prevent these sorts of problems.

She says, “RAs perform many duties to address unsafe conditions in order to prevent fires within the residence halls.” These duties include regularly completing rounds, and conducting health and safeties checks. These measures provide a watchful eye for any potential hazards.

In the event of a fire actually happening inside a student’s room, Johnie Evans, Fire Marshal at the Rome Fire Department, warns students not to attempt putting out the fire themselves. “No, they should not fight the fire.  You should never fight a fire, of some size, unless you are trained to do so,” he says.