NAPERVILLE,
ILLINOIS MUSEUM TO CLOSE FOR 'SEVERAL WEEKS' TO DEHUMIDIFY THE BUILDING AFTER
FLOOD DAMAGE CAUSED BY PIPE BURST AS A RESULT OF THE DEEP FREEZE.
The DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville will remain
closed for "several weeks" following water damage caused by a burst
pipe, officials said Saturday.
Employees opening the museum Friday morning found water
flowing from out of the front door. Senior staff members immediately called the
Fire Department and contracted a local remediation company.
"It was a small water pipe that ran on the inside
of an exterior wall on the second floor," said Dee Dee McDevitt, director
of marketing and sales for the museum. "Unfortunately, the water affected
not only the upper level but also the main floor and the lower level."
The resulting cleanup will be a massive effort that
appears will take some time to complete.
"We are very sorry that this happened," said
Kimberly Stull, director of operations. "We're working to open our doors
as soon as possible, but what we want is to make sure everything is safe."
Cory Hansen, president of Spectrum Restoration Services
of Aurora, said he and other professionals will assess the extent of needed
mitigation in the coming week, after which they will have a better idea of when
the museum might reopen.
"I have a vested interest not only for what we do
professionally but for my connection with the museum," Hansen said.
"My family's been a part of the museum for years."
For now, a dehumidification process is being used in
which massive blowers on a semitruck are moving air throughout the
48,000-square-foot building.
McDevitt said officials were not immediately sure why
the water pipe was run along the inside of a cold exterior wall.
"Anytime you have water damage, time is of the
essence," Hansen said. "Thankfully, the leak was found quickly, and
we were able to get started right away."
In addition to its resident displays, the museum
currently is hosting "XOXO," a traveling exhibit from the Children's
Museum of Pittsburgh. The display provides hands-on education on the concepts
of love and forgiveness, inspired by the philosophy and teachings of late
television host Fred Rogers.
"Right now we're just looking to dry things out and
get the building to a point where it's safe," Hansen said.
McDevitt said the current estimate is "several
weeks."
Officials said updates would be posted on the museum
website, dupagechildrensmuseum.org.