Published: May 20, 2008 11:40 pm            

RED CROSS: Chapter office has water damage

When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross in Orleans County is ready to respond. Now, the organization is in the process of responding to its own disaster at the chapter office at 421 Main St., Medina.

Interim Executive Director Diana Fulcomer said sometime during the weekend, while Red Cross volunteers were busy with Day Out With Thomas at the Medina Railroad Museum, water seeped through the roof, damaging all four floors in the building and bringing down ceiling tiles in the fourth and ground floors. No one was in the building when the damage occurred.

“The major part of the damage that really affects us is the financial office,” Fulcomer said. Contained in the financial office are financial, disaster, military, training and employee records; fax and postage machines; and office supplies like extra paper for computer printers and copy machines.

Much of the paperwork that was stored there was moved out into the main room of the building to dry or be kept from further damage should it rain again before repairs are made.

“We tried to see what we can salvage,” Fulcomer said. “The carpets are drenched, ceiling tiles fell down.”

The root of the problem is the roof. A contractor was scheduled to look at the top of the building Tuesday evening, Fulcomer said.

“When the roofer gets up there tonight he’ll be able to enlighten me,” she said Tuesday afternoon.

Volunteer Betty Quiros helped rummage through the mess and set aside information that can be dried out and saved. Quiros said the fax machines did not appear to be salvageable and the Red Cross has only had them about a month. A paper shredder, television, coffee makers and other items were also water damaged.

Fulcomer said she is unsure of damage to the lights. As a safety measure, they flipped the breaker to cut the electrical circuit to several parts of the building.

Throughout the day Tuesday, Fulcomer was in contact with the organization’s insurance company. The Red Cross has a $2,500 deductible and she said the amount of damage likely exceeds that amount. Once the insurance adjuster visits the office, they will know the actual amount.

Though there is usually at least one volunteer at the Red Cross office, no one was in the building over the weekend because of the organizations duties at the Thomas the Tank Engine event. According to Fulcomer, Administrative Assistant Darla McGill usually utilizes the financial office and was not there when part of the ceiling caved in.

Volunteering at the Thomas event has become a big fundraiser for the Red Cross. Last year they purchased new training equipment with the money they raised. This year’s funds were going to go toward community education classes on disaster preparedness. Now the funds will be used to fix the Red Cross’ own disaster, according to Fulcomer.

“We’re trying to salvage and get things out of that area as much as possible,” she said.

Contact reporter Miranda Vagg at 798-1400, ext. 2225.

        

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