Updated as of 3:42 p.m. on Jan. 12 to include new photo and all-clear message.
The area has been evacuated near Danieley D due to a gas leak, according to an E-Alert sent around noon.
Elon University gave the all clear around 3 p.m. stating the leak had been repaired and the area is open for normal operation.
The statement said the area may need to be blocked off for a few hours. Residents were not to return home, but were able to go to Danieley Commons. The office in Danieley Commons remained open for students to go to with questions.
Viah Streater, community director for residence life, said while Danieley D students were told they could go to Danieley Commons, there had not been more than a couple of students in their office.
“There’s been a call or two, just mostly making sure they can use their kitchen and they were still able to leave the neighborhood,” Streater said.
Streater said the hot water and heating had been shut off in Danieley buildings, but did not have an update on when it would be turned back on.
According to Duke Energy’s website, Elon’s gas provider, signs of a gas leak are the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs. While natural gas is odorless, this smell is added by Duke energy so a leak can be detected. When natural gas is burned completely, the products released are carbon dioxide and water vapor, in the case of incomplete combustion carbon monoxide can be created, which can be dangerous.
The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, chest pain, confusion, decreased motor function and more.
At roughly 1:20 p.m., the office of facilities management said there is no new information available at this time. The office of campus police directed any questions to Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire — who sent a brief statement to Elon News Network.
“We are working on a few items and then an updated email will be sent,” LeMire wrote.
Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley sent an email update to the Elon community at nearly 1:35 p.m., stating that crews from Piedmont Natural Gas are on site and repairs to the gas line are in process.
The statement also confirmed that Danieley D is safe for residents to reenter, though hot water and heat would not be available to residential buildings, Danieley Commons and PARC.
Danieley C resident Grace Britt said while she didn’t have to evacuate, her biggest inconvenience was not having heat or hot water.
“In the early evening, we're going to supposedly get heat back and hot water back,” Britt said. “That's all I know. That's the only email they've sent out.”
Danieley Way was also not accessible near Danieley D and Lake Verona while work was in progress.
Now since the area is clear, facilities management will be in the area to make sure heating elements are working appropriately.
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Ryan Kupperman contributed to the reporting of this story.