'Teamwork' Prevented $200K In Damage To Vernon School: Official

VERNON, CT — Officials in Vernon are crediting teamwork across several departments for saving potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to a local school after a water main break.

The lower floor of Center Road School was flooded Sunday as a result of the break as part of a residual effect. Two sections of pipe exploded on Route 74, near Franklin Street and the Ray Seraphin Ford dealership's lower lot at about 5 a.m. Sunday, Connecticut, according Connecticut Water Co. spokesman Daniel Meaney.

At 16 inches in diameter, it's one of Connecticut Water's largest pipes in the area, Meaney said. The pipe is 62 years old, he said.

By 4:40 p.m., service was restored, Meaney said.

But in between. A residual surge blew out a pipe a few miles away at Center Road School and flooded the lower floor. That section of the building houses classrooms for several special needs student programs and specialty classes.

CRS Principal Jennifer Miller termed it a "valve rupture." Vernon Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said it was similar to the safety valve on a hot water heater giving way to a build-up to prevent an explosion.

But it stull left a great deal of water on the lower floor of CRS — about 4 inches worth when Vernon police office Cara Monmie noticed it on a routine patrol sweep, Purcaro said. She and Sgt. Rob Marra then called just about everyone who could respond, he said.

Purcaro said staffers police officers, firefighters and staffers from departments like public works and recreation joined building maintainers with brushes and squeegees to channel the water out doorways and down drains.

"It was tremendous teamwork that probably saved us hundreds of tho9usands of dollars in potential damage," Purcaro said.

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said Monday morning the damage "could have been worse, but there was still substantial damage to the first floor."

A restoration company was called in Sunday afternoon and was still at CRS Monday. Staff and faculty members came in early Monday to help clean up and move materials upstairs.
Macary said Vernon police noticed water pouring from the lower floor "early" Sunday.

"Thank God Vernon police," he said. "We were on it early because of the routine patrols at the school."

The lower floor at CRS is "mostly concrete," Macary said. "But with some sheetrock and instructional supplies, we have a problem."

Macary said school system officials have been working with Connecticut Water officials to calculate the costs of the damage and work out a reimbursement figure.

"We want to get the floor up and running by the end of the week and then re-asses what we have." Macary said. "We will definitely have to replace some of the walls."

Purcaro said the damage was calculated at about $20,000. He said it could easily have been 10 times that.