The Library’s lower level, which houses Rooms 11, 53 and 65, has been temporarily closed because of flooding from Tuesday’s downpour.

Doug Jackson, associate vice president for academic computing services, said the downpour caused 3 to 4 inches of standing water in the lower level, located at the south end of the Library. He said there were more than 4 inches of rain inside Room 11.

Linda Hafar, director of Facilities & Utilities, said the lower level was closed for health and safety reasons.

“There was contaminated water on the floor, the walls, and so all of the materials had to be removed,”Hafar said.

Cleaning by Belfor USA, an outside company that specializes in property restoration, started on Tuesday and is still underway, said foreman Shane Lavidomiera from the Belfor Fresno office.

Belfor put several dehumidifiers along the halls and inside the rooms to get rid of the moisture from the flood.

Hafar said Facilities &Utilities does not have the required equipment to sanitize the rooms and halls.

“We had a contractor help us because it’s too big of a job to make it (lower level) available as soon as possible,” Hafar said.

Hafar said Facilities &Utilities is temporarily bringing back staff who have been laid off to work on the restoration.

She said their goal is to have Rooms 53 and 65 available on March 15 and Room 11 on April 5.

Jackson said this is the second time in the last 10 years that the lower level experienced flooding.

“We’re as anxious as everyone to get things back to normal, and we’ll keep people informed,”Jackson said.

Students who have classes in the lower level are advised to make arrangements with their professors or to contact the Space Management office at (916) 278-6507.

The Information Desktop Support staff, which is also located in the lower level, has been relocated to different office spaces, but phone calls can still be made at (916) 278-7337.

Kristine Guerra can be reached at [email protected].