ARNOLDSBURG SCHOOL RE-OPENS - "Cleaned And Sanitized"

(12/01/2003)

Arnoldsburg School struck by flood water from West Fork (Photo by Saundra Ballengee) Arnoldsburg Elementary School will re-open today after receiving nine inches of water during the November 19-20 flood along the West Fork. Calhoun school personnel worked several days removing mud and water and scrubbing and cleaning, according to administrator Donnie Pitts. "Everything has been cleaned and sanitized," said Pitts, who said he did a walk-through of the building with the health department last Wednesday. Superintendent Ron Blankenship said this was the third time flood water had entered the school since it was built. At least nine inches of muddy water covered virtually all the rooms in the school, damaging wooden shelves, some fixtures and contents. School personnel used plywood and sandbags to try and minimize the damage. Water surrounded the building, and was at least one and one-half feet high on the outside walls. "The sealing effort paid off some," said Blankenship. School personnel turned out in large numbers to do the clean-up, using water hoses, squeegees, brooms, vacuums, mops and rags. "The last time this happened, we had the National Guard available," said Blankenship. "This is a really big job," some of which was done over the Thanksgiving break. Pitts said the building was covered by flood insurance and contacts have been made to FEMA.

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