Campus Alert Archive
LSU

Elevated CO2 Empties LSU's Digital Media Center

LAhazmatemergency notificationmedium confidence
Under Investigation

On February 2, 2026, LSU evacuated its Digital Media Center in Baton Rouge after detectors registered elevated carbon dioxide levels. LSU Environmental Health and Safety and Facility Services responded to clear the building and determine the cause, with no re-entry allowed until the issue was resolved.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Louisiana State University
Public R1 · LA
LSU Emergency Text/Email
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction189 chars
LSU Alert: The Digital Media Center has been evacuated due to elevated CO2 levels. Avoid the building. EHS and Facility Services are responding. Do not re-enter until an all-clear is given.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstruction based on reporting that LSU evacuated the Digital Media Center after detectors flagged elevated CO2 levels on February 2, 2026.
Local outlets variously described the readings as 'CO2' (carbon dioxide) and 'CO' (carbon monoxide); the alert uses CO2 consistent with LSU's own statement, an honest ambiguity worth flagging.
No precise detection time was published, so a timestampApprox is used rather than a fabricated clock time.
Context

Background

The evacuation centered on LSU's Digital Media Center on the Baton Rouge campus. WBRZ reported the building was emptied after an alert for elevated levels, and WAFB reported that LSU Environmental Health and Safety and Facility Services responded to clear the building and find the cause, barring re-entry until resolved. The LSU Reveille reported the cause was still unknown, and WJBO reported the university was still determining the source the next day. The case is a textbook hazmat/air-quality emergency notification: a sensor-triggered evacuation handled cautiously even before the cause was identified.
Outcome
The building was cleared while EHS and Facility Services investigated the source of the elevated CO2. The university was still determining the cause the following day, with no injuries reported.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    LSU evacuates Digital Media Center after alert for excessive carbon monoxide levels - WBRZ
    wbrz.com
  2. News
    LSU building evacuated due to 'elevated CO2 levels' - WAFB
    wafb.com
  3. News
    LSU Determining Cause Of Elevated CO2 Levels After Building Evacuation - WJBO
    wjbo.iheart.com
Tags
hazmatcarbon-dioxideair-qualityevacuationemergency-notificationlouisianabaton-rougeUnder Investigation
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion