Heavy metro flooding has forced several areas on campus to close, according to an e-mail sent out to all current students and staff members by Marketing and Public Relations.

Although campus is open today, the OCCC Aquatic Center and weight room, as well as several classrooms in the Social Sciences Center, will be closed until further notice, the e-mail said.

The e-mail advised students with classes today and Thursday in the SSC to contact the division office.

At 6:44 p.m. last night, Eric Watson, Sport and Recreation specialist, said he was made aware of the flooding situation.

“The ceiling panels were soaked by excess water and they fell to the ground,” Watson said.

“Facilities Management will be the ones replacing the panels, but I don’t know when they will replace them.”

At 8:30 p.m., Susan Tabor, Social Sciences dean, said she received a telephone call from Felix Aquino, Academic Affairs vice president, regarding the water damage.

“I didn’t know from firsthand experience,” Tabor said. “But from what it sounded like, it was a lot of water.”

She said this is not the first time the SSC has received water damage.

“There has been flooding down here before, whenever there is heavy rain like last night,” Tabor said.

“The (air conditioner) has this steep pitch, and where the pitch and the flat roof come together, the water builds up and comes through the roof and down the walls.”

Tabor said there have been many attempts to fix the problem, including some roof construction last summer.

“Right now, we are just trying to make sure the classes we have scheduled for today are still going to take place.

Jonathan Prewitt, business major, said he was unaware of the water damage when his morning class was relocated to 2E4.

“It doesn’t inconvenience me,” Prewitt said. “But if I was late, then yeah, it would have been annoying.”

Jessica Deffalco, political science major, also said she had not received word of the flooding situation.

“I had no idea there was water damage,” Deffalco said. “But it doesn’t really bother me.”

To contact Whitney Knight, email onlineeditor@occc.edu.