Peru Office

The American Red Cross of Miami County is use to responding to disasters through out the community but this week they had to respond to a disaster of their own. Over the past weekend a major water line between the first and second floor within their building at 16 N. Miami Street broke causing massive water damage to most the building. It is estimated the line broke on Saturday while the office was closed for the weekend and was not discovered until Monday morning. By then there had been major damage to the first floor and basement where many supplies were stored.

The office at 16 N. Miami Street has been temporarily closed while a restoration company tears out the water damaged areas and dries out the building to prevent and mold or water issues. After the building has been dried out which could take up to two weeks the Red Cross will be seeking local contractors to assist in rebuilding the damaged areas so the office can be reopened. Immediately after the incident the office initiated their Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and transferred all office functions temporarily to their Wabash County office until the Peru office can be reopened.

Mitch Figert, Executive Director of the American Red Cross in Miami and Wabash Counties stated, “We knew we had to keep services up and running and se we practiced what we teach other business to do and immediately implemented our COOP plan. This included transferring phone lines to the Wabash Office and getting critical files and materials out of the building.”

Clients will see little changes in the services as they are all up and running, including transportation, there will just be no staff at the Peru office. You can still call the local phone number, 473-4461, to avoid long distance charges and it will be forwarded to the Wabash office. Anyone needing to pick up supplies or meet with a staff member should also still utilize the local number and set up an appointment to meet with a staff member in the Peru area.

Figert continued, “We have someone in Peru nearly everyday working with the insurance company and restoration crew so we will still be able to meet with clients and deliver supplies on an appointment only basis.”

The Red Cross is grateful they did have insurance on their building and contents but know there are going to be expense above the insurance settlement. They are roughly estimating damages at this time of both structure and contents damage to be nearly $50,000. They are asking anyone in the community who can support them as they begin the recovery process to send their financial gift to P.O. Box 429, Peru, Indiana 46970.

“We are working closely with our insurance agent to be as efficient as possible as we move forward with the repairs but are already aware we will have some expenses out of our budget. This will strain what was already a tight year for us. Once we enter the rebuilding phase we are planning on using as many local contractors as possible to keep the monies in our local community,” Figert added.

It is estimated the Peru office could be closed for at least 6 weeks as they recover from this unexpected loss. They also encourage other businesses in the community to remember to plan for the unexpected and make sure they are Red Cross Ready by practicing the three simple steps including: Be Informed, Make a Plan and Get a Kit.

“I know there are better days ahead for the Red Cross in Miami County. This just reminds us that no one is safe from disasters, not even the Red Cross,” Figert closed saying.

The American Red Cross of Miami County is a United Way agency. Anyone with questions about the Red Cross can contact Mitch Figert at 765-473-4461 or figertm@usa.redcross.org.