FEBRUARY 20, 2015
IONIA, MICHIGAN (WOOD)
Mother Nature brought justice to a temporary halt in Ionia
Friday, after the frigid weather is believed to have caused a sprinkler pipe to
burst, flooding the historic courthouse.
Courthouse employees could hear water running through the
walls and down the elevators shaft of the 130-year-old courthouse just before
9:00 a.m. Friday morning.
Officials say the damage could have been much worse if not
for the quick action of some court employees, including a judge and the county
prosecutor, who helped carry out the evacuation.
And by carry out, we mean just that.
Probate Court Judge Robert Sykes Junior was handling a
guardianship case involving a 95-year-old woman who uses a wheelchair.
“My staff was slipped a note indicating there was a major
water break and the courthouse was to be evacuated immediately,” said Judge
Sykes.
The elevator was out, as water was making its way down the
shaft. They’d have to take the stairs.
So the judge and County Prosecutor Schafer did what they
needed to do.
“We executed the two person lift and carried the lady down
two flights of stairs,” said Judge Sykes. “I think she was a little bit
concerned that we were going to drop her. She was a very pleasant lady. 95
years old and she just wanted to get out of here, so we carrier her down. She
thanked us and away she went.”
it’s not clear just how many gallons came from the water
sprinkler pipe, which carries water for the fire sprinkler system all the way
up to the courthouse’s upper floor.
It was enough to create about a foot of standing water in
some areas of the lower level.
When the water came down, employees went to work.
“It was a good response by everybody in the building,” said
Doug DeVries, Ionia County’s Emergency Management Director.
They formed bucket brigades to keep the water from rising
near critical equipment in the basement.
That effort helped keep the water from damaging vital
components to the courthouse operations, like computer servers.
Damage was confined to carpet and drywall in the basement.
“It could have been much worse. Yes. Absolutely,” said
DeVries.
Barring any unforeseen problems, the courthouse should
reopen Monday morning.