BluSky responds to West Virginia flooding
BluSky’s Large Loss Catastrophic Events Team is on the ground in Lewisburg, West Virginia, assisting in the recovery from what is the third-deadliest flooding on record in the state. Torrential rainfall on June 23 dumped up to 12 inches in less than 12 hours there, in what the National Weather Service called a 1,000 year event.
At the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, what would eventually be six feet of water began rising in the basement, damaging parts of the structure along with props, costumes, and other materials in storage. All this while actors were onstage above in the midst of a performance of “On Golden Pond.”
As the actors delivered their lines under the stage lights, theatre staff descended into the basement and began moving everything they could lift from the floor up to the next level, as recounted in this Charleston Gazette-Mail article. But before long it became evident the water would rise too high to protect everything.
BluSky (the relief team mentioned in the article) arrived on the scene the same day President Barack Obama declared West Virginia a major disaster area. Our crew immediately went to work extracting standing water from the theatre basement and removing wet drywall, and then set up several commercial dehumidifiers and air scrubbers to dry the structure and the basement’s contents.
With drying in progress, our team then began the daunting task of removing costumes and props from the basement to start the process of determining what was to be discarded and what can be restored.
As work continues, we ask you to keep our crews and the good people of West Virginia in your thoughts.
Just as BluSky is responding in West Virginia’s time of need, we’re here to help if you ever experience flood damage. Whether it’s historic flooding or simple water damage from a broken water line in your home, don’t hesitate to call on us at any time at 888.882.5875.