UPDATED: 12:52 p.m.

Roanoke College President Sabine O'Hara, in her first appearance since Friday's carbon monoxide leak in a campus dormitory, said at a news conference today that she flew back from an out-of-town trip "because I needed to be here."

O'Hara had been in Minnesota for her son's wedding rehearsal dinner. But, addressing the media at the Henry H. Fowler Alumni building, she said she flew back Friday night after the incident "because this is my family too."

O'Hara said there has been an outpouring of support, understanding, prayers and concerns. She said the city of Salem's emergency services, fire and police departments "worked really well. You don't ask for a situation like this but we know our emergency procedures work."

O'Hara said she planned to fly out to Fargo, N.D. this afternoon.

Friday, O'Hara attended a worship service on the college campus, attended also by other members of the Roanoke College community and people who have been on campus attending the Lutheran Power in the Spirit conference. About 100 conference attendees had been staying in a campus dormitory, known as Sections, where Friday morning an apparent buildup of carbon monoxide sickened more than 100 conference attendees and teens participating in a six-week college prep program called Upward Bound.

A 91-year-old retired pastor, Walter J. Vierling of Pearisburg who was attending Power in the Spriit conference, died in the dormitory. Friday's service was held in his memory.

Medical examiners have not yet determined the cause of Vierling's death.

Teresa Gereaux, college spokeswoman, said at today's news conference that the focus of the carbon monoxide leak contiues to focus on the potential failure in the dormitory's gas hot water system.

Sections dormitories do not have carbon monoxide detectors.

Asked today if the college is considering installing detectors, Gereaux said the college is looking at temporary and permanent measures. She would not say if those measures included installing detectors.

Friday, 62 people were taken to Lewis-Gale Medical Center, with another 49 treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Of those, all but four at Lewis-Gale have been discharged. The four remain in stable condition, including a woman who'd been in critical condition on Friday.

O'Hara said conference attendees have been moved into the newest dorms on campus, Caldwell, Ritter and Allegheny residence halls. Upward Bound students had already returned home for the weekend, as planned, but the 37 girls who were staying in Sections will be moved to Catawba residence hall when they return next week. The boys had been residing in a different dorm across campus.