Hazmat crews evacuate office at local college

DAVIE, Fla. (WSVN) -- An administrative office at Nova Southeastern University has been evacuated and scores of people quarantined while crews investigate the presence of a possible hazardous material.

Tuesday morning, officials said, they received calls regarding some kind of white powder located inside the university's office, located at 3434 South University Drive. Braulio Rosa of Davie Fire Rescue said his team is working to verify whether the material is white powder or something else. "Our crews came in, I know that there are calls that went out that way, until we can actually get in there and sample whatever material it is," he said.

In the meantime, for 40 or more people evacuated since this morning, the investigation has proved quite an ordeal, as they have been quarantined inside buses until tests reveal what mystery substance was found in the office.

Rosa said, those sitting inside the Nova shuttle buses might have to be there for a while. "It's an unknown substance/material that they gathered from inside. Then we need to send it to a lab to test. It's going to take a few hours to test," he said.

Nearing the anniversary of Sept. 11, these scares are taken very seriously by authorities. "We always have to take it as a credible threat and send in our crews to investigate," said Rosa.

Estelle Bitkower is a local resident said she understands the precaution the authorities have taken with this situation. "It should be taken seriously because you never, ever know what some kook is going to do," she said. "This will probably cost every town a fortune, but if it's really not a hoax, and it saves lives, it's worth it."

Though hazardous materials crews, firefighters, and police from three agencies have been tied up there all day, officials said, this incident is not affecting the entire university. They expect to have the situation by the end of the day, but until then, everything is staying in place on campus.

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