MOUNT VERNON – There was a good chance nearly everyone’s water pipes were frozen throughout Knox County during Christmas weekend.
Ice and snow covered the roadways. The negative windchill didn’t help either. Such conditions can lead to busted pipes, water damage and headaches on a holiday that’s engulfed in relaxation.
Knox Public Health wasn’t victimless on Christmas Day as a water pipe burst across the central area of the building, diverting services for a week.
Fire and security alarms alerted the Mount Vernon Fire Department and several backup servicemen to aid on the scene.
The roughly eight-member crew began salvaging what they could by unplugging electronics, shutting off power breakers, removing important documents from the disaster area and tarping the computer server stack to prevent water damage, according to a proclamation made by KPH.
In addition to turning off the water, Capt. Trevor Williams assisted in contacting the City of Mount Vernon to turn off the main water supply to the building.
The crew squeegeed the area and relocated furniture to prevent further property damage.
Health Commissioner Zach Green said if it weren’t for the MVFD crew’s help, Knox Public Health would have needed to close the building for nearly a month.
“It speaks volumes of what it means to work in a small community,” Green said. “In the eyes of the world of first responders, some water damage isn’t that big of a deal, but the impact that it has on the community of not being able to provide services can be detrimental, especially around the holidays.”
