Campus Alert Archive
Tulane

A Gallon of Chlorine Dioxide and Six Hours of Silence: When a Chemistry Lab Spill Shut Down Stern Hall

LAchemical spillemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

A university employee spilled chlorine dioxide in a laboratory inside Percival Stern Hall at Tulane University on the morning of February 5, 2024. The building, which houses the university's chemistry and research laboratories, was evacuated at approximately 9:00 AM. One person experienced shortness of breath and was transported to a local hospital. The building remained closed for roughly six hours until an all-clear was issued at 3:05 PM.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
Tulane University
Private R1 · LA
~14,000 studentsTU Alerts
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages 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 ALERTPush
Approximate reconstruction285 chars
TULANE ALERT: Chemical spill reported in Percival Stern Hall. All persons in the building must evacuate immediately. Avoid entering the building until further notice. Emergency responders are on scene. If you experience any symptoms, contact Tulane University Police at (504) 865-5911.

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

The initial alert ordered evacuation but did not identify the specific chemical involved, following standard hazmat communication practice of prioritizing action over detail
The spill was contained to a single laboratory, but the entire building was evacuated as a precaution due to the potential for chlorine dioxide vapor to spread through HVAC systems
ALL CLEARPush
Approximate reconstruction189 chars
TULANE ALERT UPDATE: The chemical spill in Percival Stern Hall has been cleaned and the building has been cleared for re-entry. Normal operations may resume. Thank you for your cooperation.

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

The six-hour gap between evacuation and all-clear reflects the time required for hazmat teams to neutralize chlorine dioxide and verify air quality meets safety standards
Classes and research activities in Stern Hall were disrupted for the entire day, affecting chemistry, biology, and other science departments housed in the building
Context

Background

Percival Stern Hall is a central building on Tulane University's uptown campus that houses the Department of Chemistry and several research laboratories. Chlorine dioxide is commonly used as a bleach and in water treatment but can cause severe respiratory distress when inhaled in concentrated form. The New Orleans Fire Department responded to the scene alongside Tulane University Police and environmental health personnel. There was a discrepancy in official accounts of the spill volume: the NOFD reported a five-gallon container while Tulane officials said approximately one gallon was spilled. Chemical spill evacuations on university campuses are less common than fire or weather alerts but carry unique challenges because occupants may have already been exposed before the alert is sent.
Analysis

Key Findings

Chemical spill alerts prioritize immediate evacuation over providing chemical identification details, which may leave evacuees uncertain about their exposure risk
The six-hour building closure for a single-lab spill illustrates the extended timeline required for hazmat decontamination and air quality verification
Discrepancies between fire department and university reports on the volume of chemical spilled highlight a common problem in multi-agency incident communication
Outcome
Building evacuated for approximately six hours. One person hospitalized with respiratory symptoms. Spill contained to one laboratory. No lasting environmental impact reported.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    One hospitalized, Stern Hall evacuated after chemical spill
    tulanehullabaloo.com
  2. News
    Tulane University evacuated Stern Hall after chemical spill
    nola.com
  3. News
    1 person treated after chemical spill at Tulane
    fox8live.com
Tags
chemical-spillhazmatevacuationlaboratorychlorine-dioxidelouisianaprivate-university
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion