Flooded PHCC School Undergoing Repairs
PHCC Educational Foundation replaces damaged textbooks
BATON ROUGE, La. — The impact of recent flooding in Louisiana can be seen in photos from the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) Apprentice Training School in Baton Rouge. According to Climate.gov, the Baton Rouge area recently received more than a foot of rain in 48 hours. The Amite River, just east of the city, rose more than 30 feet, breaking flood records set in 1921 by 6 feet.
The PHCC Baton Rouge Apprenticeship School received about 3 feet of water and is facing significant repairs and reconstruction to the building.
“We lost a lot of the furniture,” said Jerry Payne, a PHCC member who runs the school. “We need desks for the students, new conference tables, and a replacement for our copy machine that was 2 feet underwater. We’re starting to put things back together, but help would be very much appreciated.”
Of the supplies damaged, the school lost about 50 PHCC Educational Foundation plumbing textbooks, published by Cengage Learning. Needing to replace the books as quickly as possible, but faced with heavy costs to repair the school, school leaders contacted the foundation for help.
Working together with Cengage, the foundation’s leadership quickly approved funding to replace the school’s books at no cost, saving the school more than $3,500. The books are on their way and restoration work has begun at the school with debris, soaked drywall, and insulation being removed by the instructor and apprentices.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks. This once again proves that PHCC and the foundation are truly a family. When one member suffers, we all suffer and get behind them to lend a helping hand,” said Keith Bienvenu, general manager of Bienvenu Brothers Plumbing in Harahan, Louisiana, and past PHCC national president.
To contribute direct materials or funds to assist with the school’s restoration, contact Julie Fuselier at the Louisiana PHCC Chapter at 225-344-0620, or Jerry Payne at 225-413-0685. For additional information, visit www.phccweb.org/disaster-relief.
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Publication date: 10/17/2016
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