By Thea Jarvis

The Village of St. Joseph sustained some $15,000 worth of damage last month when a water line broke and flooded administrative offices and basement classrooms in the Atlanta facility.

A water line servicing the drinking fountain in a first floor hallway of the administration building ruptured July 24 after the offices had closed for the day. Water ran all night on the main level and seeped through to the basement. The problem was discovered around 11 a.m. the following day by a staff member.

The Village, located on Butner Road in southwest Atlanta, is a residential treatment center for young people with special social, emotional and educational needs.

"The water fountain was about 25 years old," said Steve Brown, local claims manager for Catholic Mutual, a national self-insurance group which covers real property owned by the archdiocese. "I imagine that was the original water line, so it may have deteriorated."

Brown dispatched an emergency moisture control crew, which wet-vacuumed tile floors and carpeting.

"A prompt response from the workers saved the basement carpet, but the upstairs carpeting was a total loss because it sat in water all night," he explained.

Major costs will include carpet and floor tile replacement, as well as ceiling repair. No permanent damage to office or classroom furnishings was incurred.

All damage is covered by archdiocesan insurance certificates, subject to a deductible of $250.

"By and large, it hasn't interrupted the program," said Charlie Bright, director of the Village. "Major events bring out the flexibility in everyone and the kids tend to be resilient in proportion to the crisis at hand."

Bright said Village halls were filled with blowers and dehumidifiers, but expected things to return to normal within two to three weeks. The village has a current enrollment of 40 resident youngsters attending the year-round program. Summer classes were uninterrupted, moved to nearby cottages as warranted.

"This is just a temporary setback," Bright said. "The saddest thing is that we just got through a year of chaos and upheaval."

The Village recently completed a series of improvements funded by an $800,000 capital campaign drive. Repairs included a new roof, landscaping, air condition in cottages and classrooms, and the renovation of basement space for class use.

Brown emphasized the importance of notifying his office as soon as an emergency is uncovered.

"Luckily, we saved all the furnishings" at the Village, he said. "The damage would have been even more extensive had the accident not been discovered" and reported.