Tipp City Library fully open after basement flooding

The Tipp City Public Library was forced to close temporarily on Saturday, May 23, due to flooding caused by a combination of unusually heavy rain and an unexpected power outage.

“The entire basement of the library had about two to three inches of water,” Tipp City Public Library Director Lisa Santucci said. “On top of that, with the groundwater swelling with so much rain, the elevator shaft began filling up as well.”

Approximately 700 gallons of water was pumped out of the building, Santucci said.

“There is a sump pump in the shaft, and with the power off - sadly, the back-up battery did not work,” Santucci said. “The elevator shaft began flooding.”

Workers from Boone Restoration and Accelerated Hydro-Vac were hired to perform clean-up work at the library.

“We brought in Boone Restoration,” Santucci said. “They immediately brought in fans, large dehumidifiers, and other tools to help remove the water.” 

“They were incredibly helpful,” she said, “however, we didn't get them into the library until six hours after we got into the building due to so many people needing their assistance.”

“I would like to shout out to Accelerated Hydro-Vac in Tipp City,” Santucci said. “They were lifesavers, as they pumped out the 700 gallons of water from the elevator shaft.”

Library staff, community members and local businesses have also assisted with clean-up efforts, she said. Chaffee’s Brewhouse also provided free food during the clean-up.

 “I had put out a call on social media asking for help from anyone with a wet/dry vac, and people showed up,” Santucci said. “Families, patrons, even staff from the Troy Public Library.”

“It’s just amazing,” she said. “People have brought food, they have offered to help, and most of all, they keep coming to the library to use our facility. That is the most important part.”

It is still too soon to estimate the amount of damage caused by the flooding, Santucci said.

“At this time, it is too soon,” she said. “We are reviewing everything, and our insurance agents will be meeting us.”

According to figures from the National Weather Service, somewhere between 2.74 and 3.68 inches of rainfall was recorded in Tipp City on Saturday, May 23.

The last time the library building flooded was in 2014, Santucci said, during a storm that also flooded several other buildings.

“We learn as we go, and make sure to take all this knowledge moving forward,” she said.

The library building was closed briefly on Saturday, but reopened on Tuesday, May 26.

“We reopened on Tuesday, but just the first floor of the library,” Santucci said. “A book club meeting was rescheduled, and we had to call community members who were scheduled to use the meeting rooms in the basement; they were canceled.”

The library is now fully open, Santucci said, and the best way that patrons can assist is to keep visiting the library.

The library’s Summer Reading Program kick-off night was scheduled to be held on Monday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m., and other upcoming events can be found on the library’s website at www.tippcitylibrary.org.

“Keep coming,” Santucci said. “Check out books, join the summer reading program. Being busy with kids wanting to read and visit the library is the best medicine for us.”