All hands to the pump
15th June 2016
Rained a bit at home time! Most of you know that as you were stood in it getting soaked to the skin. What many of you may not be aware of though is the drama that unfolded once the children had gone home and the heroic efforts which managed to save our school building from serious flooding.
Water was pouring from the roof and playground, down the steps where Mrs Locke’s class enter the building and filling up the enclosed area at the bottom of the steps, with nowhere to go but under the door and into school. This was despite a row of sandbags and the Herculean efforts of Mrs Hale, Mr King and Mr Percival, later joined by Mr Blake, who were sweeping water away and moving bucket loads from the door, slogging hard and soaked to the skin but not giving up.
Inside the water picked up pace. Most of the equipment was being used outside so I grabbed whatever I could find – half a mop and an empty bin to start with! Mrs Weir realised she had some bags of sand and went to get them and I called for any scrap material that could be found in the art cupboard - Mrs Johnson found some remarkably absorbent material to use. By now the water was around 8 feet into the building so Mrs Weir sandbagged the door and stuffed it with material, I worked on the leading edge of the water to try holding it back and other staff members began gathering materials behind us. It felt like a losing battle with nothing but our hands and minimal equipment but spurred on by the very wet and obviously exhausted colleagues outside, we had to try something.
Then, suddenly the Cavalry arrived! Mrs Ell had found three industrial wet and dry floor cleaners that I never knew existed. She, Mrs Weir and Mrs Johnson then plugged them in and went to do battle. With them they collected gallons of water, Miss Webb was on bucket emptying duty and between them they managed to clear the building. Hurray! In the meantime the heaviest rain stopped and our wet heroes outside managed to clear the last of the standing water against the door. Hurray again.
It was very exciting and I’m really proud of everyone working together to solve the problem. Apologies if I’ve left anyone out who lent a hand, it was a little chaotic and I didn’t see all that was going on. Let’s just hope, pray, cross fingers etc that there is no further rain as heavy as that tonight and we should be fine tomorrow. Well done everyone!
Additional - Mrs Rimmer and Zach were there helping too. Brilliant!