Update: As of 5 p.m. Thursday Sept. 4, Oaks E residents were allowed back into their apartments. For the three apartments that were water damaged during the lightning strike, Director of Elon Residence Life Elaine Turner said in an email that the university is working with those residents to find temporary housing. Turner also said that Campus Safety and Police would have the building under a 24 hour watch tonight.
Firetrucks left the Oaks E area (Brown Hall) around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, after lightning struck and caused damage to the apartment building around 10 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 3.
A ladder was lifted at approximately 12 a.m., when firemen checked the roof for any damage and for any sign of where exactly the lightning struck, according to an Elon Town police officer.
Oaks E residents were asked to meet in the Oaks Commons around 11:30 p.m., where they were told they would have to relocate for the night.
"I know this is not ideal on a night with classes, but we will cooperate the best we can," Assistant VP of Student Life Jon Dooley said.
Students living in the building were given around 15 minutes between 11:45 p.m. and 12 a.m. to gather what they needed. The university said they would make hotel arrangements for any student who didn't have a place to stay.
In a statement made by University Communications, "The strike entered through a dryer vent to Room 302 of the building at approximately 10 p.m. It traveled into the bathroom and blew a hole in the ceiling."
The resident assistant on duty in Oaks area said all students who were in the building at the time are fine.