A pipe ruptured in Grover Center Monday morning, causing damage to offices in the Department of Health Sciences.
Because of freezing temperatures, a line within an air conditioner ruptured, causing flooding mostly in the offices of Ann Rathbun, professor in health sciences, and Juli Miller, physical therapy instructor.
Rathbun arrived Monday morning to find her office flooded with water and fallen, crumbled ceiling tiles. Some books were among the saturated items in the office, but nothing was damaged beyond repair
she said. The ceiling tiles were the biggest part of the mess ... it was minor compared to what could have happened.
Miller heard the sound of a vacuum as she approached her office to discover half of the room collapsed as a result of water from the ruptured line. There was water on everything she said.
Doug Franklin, assistant dean for recreation and wellness, said lines bursting within air conditioners are not uncommon; it happened last year in Grover's gymnasium. (The air conditioners) are usually turned down over the weekend...and when it came on on Monday it just ruptured
he said.
Most of the mess was cleaned up within two hours, Franklin said. Rathbun said she gives big time kudos for addressing the problem as quickly as they did ... they were very attentive to all our needs. The carpets dried and the ceiling tiles were replaced by yesterday morning.
Miller temporarily moved into another office. It was stressful
but I think we dealt with it pretty well
she said.
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Anna Maria Georgalis
