Several University of Delaware buildings will reopen for classes and resume normal operations on Thursday morning, after being evacuated Wednesday afternoon.
The evacuations were in response to a notification that researchers inadvertently produced a small amount of a shock-sensitive explosive chemical in Lammot du Pont Laboratory. No injuries were reported.
Members of the UD community were directed to evacuate Lammot du Pont Laboratory, Brown Laboratory, Drake Laboratory, Memorial Hall, Alison Hall and Morris Library. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), along with the Delaware State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit (EOD), investigated the materials. The EOD team removed the materials from the building and transferred them to a safe location on the South Green, where detonation toook place at about 5:45 p.m.
“We’re grateful for the collaboration of emergency responders on campus and from state and local agencies to achieve a safe resolution to this situation,” said Mark Seifert, UD associate vice president for emergency management and safety. “We appreciate the patience and cooperation of everyone in the UD community as we worked to resume normal operations as swiftly and safely as possible.”
Individuals who left belongings in any of the evacuated buildings may retrieve them by contacting UDPD at 302-831-2222.
Members of the University community can receive information during a campus crisis or emergency through UD Alert, the University of Delaware’s emergency notification system. For more information on UD’s safety response resources, please visit https://www.udel.edu/safety/
