Cleanup Continues Following A Flood On The First Floor Of NESCOM in Bangor

It was the middle of last month when students and staff working on the first floor of Husson University's Wildey Communications building (which houses the New England School of Communication) noticed that water was collecting along the floor, creating a flood.

According to Sarah Walker Caron, Director of Communications at Husson, it was October 18th, just around 4:30 in the afternoon when the leak was discovered.

"The water main break happened under the Wildey Communications Center building, causing water to rise up and damage the concrete floor in some areas as well as drywall. "

Caron says it took crews almost 4 hours to figure out where the leak was coming from and that that particular water main happened to also be a feeder for the sprinkler system.

In the process of locating the leak, water was shut off to several buildings on campus for a short while.

Due to the damage that floor sustained, and the need to make sure it was structurally sound, a number of classes that typically take place on the first floor, have been temporarily relocated to other facilities on site.

Caron says the University has been working with the university’s insurance company and city officials to determine what to do next.

"Husson University has been working with our insurance company and local contractors to assess the damage, remove materials that were compromised, and make repairs. Damaged materials have been removed and cleanup work in the building is ongoing."

Another piece of good news, the rest of the building escaped damage, so the use of the 2nd floor has been restored.

"Access to the second floor of the NESCOM building has been restored via the back stairwell. Faculty, staff and students are now able to access and use offices and studios on the second floor."

While they don't yet know when the first-floor repairs will be completed, Caron says Husson has found a way to keep classes on track, while keeping students and staff safe, which has been their top priority.

"We’ve maintained the continuity of education throughout, with faculty and staff offices moved to other areas of campus and classrooms reallocated to ensure that learning continued despite the damage to the building. We are so appreciative of the flexibility of our students, faculty, and staff to pivot quickly following this event and with such understanding.

Fingers crossed that the cleanup process and repairs go quickly and smoothly so folks can get back to their normal schedules as soon as possible.

Husson is just one of the great Universities we have here in Maine. But what about our awesome High Schools? Check these out!