Sprinkler Floods Free Clinic

The free health care center operated by Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh remains closed after a sprinkler malfunction badly flooded the organization's downtown Pittsburgh headquarters. Spokeswoman Clare Kushma says the health center will remain closed until further notice and at this time they are not taking walk-in clients because the building is too badly damaged.

Kushma says the sprinkler flooded offices Tuesday but went undetected until Wednesday but by then, ceilings and walls had been destroyed or heavily damaged....

" We were told by the restoration company that anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of water hit the basement. So we're looking at damage on the third floor, the second floor, the first floor and into the basement."

Kushma says staff are on hand and taking calls from clients who need help with basic needs such as utility bills but this is still hard on the clients.....

"We had great need prior to this happening. So, that's the unfortunate part for those that we serve. There was so much need and our being closed a couple of days, it's very difficult for an agency that is always quick to respond to needs of others to not be able to do so because of something like this occurring."

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