I got an e-mail from K1XQ this morning telling me that he had been in the shack last evening and apparently there had been a flood in the room. I've been on the phone this morning with Tom Murray of the Casali Group (617-864-7909) and Mark the construction foreman at their job site. I also spoke with Dave over at Biolabs.

Apparently what happened is this: In turning on the water for the first time in the new sprinkler system, they had a problem with the system in our outer room. They then had to remove the sprinkler in the radio room to get at this problem and when they did so, there was quite a bit of water that came pouring down into the room. They did have the presence of mind to have the plastic draped over some of the gear (I am told), but some things were obviously not covered. Dave tells me the keyboard was soaked and covered with crud, the floor was soaked under the sprinkler head and there was water in the ceiling. Some of the equipment had been moved around as well. There was also some water damage in the outer room. We don't know about the upstairs yet. According to Mark, when he was in the room this morning, there was more water damage than the sprinkler people had reported to him. He blames the sprinkler installers for this mess and for trying to cover up about the extent of the spill. He tells me he will personally see to it that any standing water in the room will be cleaned up today. He also tells me we will be reimbursed for any damage.

So anyway at tonight's meeting I'm sure you'll be able to assess the extent of damage for yourselves. As I suggested to Dave, put the gear through the paces. Note any damage or abnormalities. Clean up what is cleanable. Anything obviously wet, disconnect and set aside.

As you know, water is one of our worst nightmares. Which is why I tried to negotiate us out of the sprinklers in the first place. Casali Group apologizes for the damage but, of course, we still have to deal with the fallout from yet another bungled piece of construction work.

I'll be back in Cambridge on Saturday.

73, Mike
K3UOC

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© 1999 The President and Fellows of Harvard College.