New Beginnings launches fundraiser to cover storm damages at Meadowlark Commons
All 23 residents who'd been living in the shelter, as well as New Beginning's administrative offices, were forced out by the damages, said Director
Fifteen people, including four children, are now being housed in a hotel in
The storm ripped at least half the roof off the former hotel, draping a massive piece over the front of the building and scattering smaller pieces as far as the Second and Poplar intersection, Gonzales said.
After the roof came up, rain poured into the building, dripping through ceilings and down walls, flooding the ground floor with several inches of water and damaging numerous computers and other pieces of electronic equipment.
Not all 16 apartments in the 51-year-old building were flooded, but the structure had to be evacuated because the peeling roof also took out a gas line that had run across the top of the building.
"You could smell the gas," Gonzales said.
No one was injured by the storm, which weather officials described as a microburst packing winds over 60 mph.
While they didn't have any estimate on the damages, the non-profit organization was advised because it was direct wind damage, it will have been responsible for a 1 percent deductible on the
The
Fortunately, Gonzales said, the damages were limited the transitional housing building and not the neighboring
The building last had its roof worked on in 2015,
Besides the roof, however, ceilings and walls damaged by water will need to be repaired, as well as untold equipment that will need replacing.
Temporary repairs have been made to the roof, to prevent rain forecast for Wednesday, from again flooding the building. And a local fire and water restoration crew has been in the building the past couple of days setting up fans and attempting to dry things out.
It may take another week to get things dry, Gonzales said. Water-stained paper was spread across desks and counters on the ground floor.
Anyone needing emergency services should call
People can donate through the agency's website, http://www.newbeginnings-inc.org/, its Facebook page or mailing a check to P.O. Box 2504,
A gofundme page has been set up to raise money to pay for the roof.
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