Times-Advocate, 1983-11-09, Page 40Hospita
hit by flash flood
VOLUNTEERS arrive at the hospital to pump out the water.
UNFORGETTABLE FLOOD inundated hospital with a torrent of water in 1969.
Above, the flooded Ann Street entrance is shown as cars are swept by. Drugs,
records and equipment were lost.
Everyone living in Exeter on July
24, 1969, can remember exactly
where they were and what they were
doing when the big flood hit, but the
staff at the hospital probably
remembers it best of all. It was the
hardest hit building in town.
In a matter of a couple of hours,
a torrential rain and hail storm turn-
ed Exeter's down town area Into a
raging river. Cars were overturned
and swept down stream, and store
basements were quickly swamped
with water.
The freak flood, seeking to escape,
poured down Ann Street, past the
hospital's lower back doors. Water
rushed in like a tidal wave, complete-
ly filling the basement to sweep away
records, drugs, medical supplies, fur-
niture and equipment. The damage
amounted to $100,000.
One nurse, Mrs. Ivan Bennewies,
R.N., almost lost her life when she
was trapped in the basement phar-
macy. Although she climbed nn a
cupboard, the Nater had reached her
neck before she was rescued by
other hospital staff, Alex Meikle,
William Berends and Richard
Mellenger.
During the height of the flood, a
pipe from the propane tanks in the
basement burst and set the basement
ceiling on fire. It was extinguished by
the flood water but the upstairs was
filled with smoke.
Administrator, Alice Claypole,
R.N., quickly had the patients mov-
ed to the east wing "in case the
whole thing went".
It was a black day.
All vital operations of the hospital
were cut off and by the following
day, the 36 patients had been
evacuated. Those who could, went
home, while others were moved by
ambulance to nursing homes or to
Clinton Public Hospital.
The drugs and medicines that
hadn't floated away were either
water soaked or had the labels wash-
ed off. All had to be destroyed. Every
motor for the equipment had to be
"baked" dry.
J
Page 28
Flood cleanup
The cleanup was the real story of
the day. A crew of 30 men converg-
ed on the hospital to man sump
pumps, and hose down the whole
place (basement) with disinfectant.
In the lower kitchen, hospital staff
also hosed down the canned goods,
washing off labels and marking the
contents. This was deemed necessary
to eliminate the danger of infection.
More volunteers carried out load
after load of wet muddy records to
the fresh air to dry. To give some idea
of the volume of paper destroyed,
the hospital transported three truck
loads of records to the dump!
Walter McBride, hospital board
chairman at the time, viewing the
damage following the flood said "I
didn't realize it would be as bad as
this," but he praised the dozens of
volunteers who were pitching in to
clean up the unbelievable mess.
Some floors, windows and doors
had to be replaced, and rede'-orating
completed before patients were
allowed back into the building in
AFTER THE FLOOD — Nurses bale out water in hallway of hospital.
about three weeks.
The flood was perhaps the worst
and most dramatic setback to ever hit
the hospital, but once again it was
overcome by conscientious and co-
operative citizens.
Best Wishes
f rom
Myron
Produce Ltd.
RR 3 Exeter 235-2650
Conjra1u/a1io a3
from
Hamilton's
Machine Shop Ltd.
20 Nelson St., Exeter 235-1655
Best Wishes
from
Clarke
Self Serve
Shell 119 Main St. N., Exeter
235-0119
eeii UVi�he�
from
New Barkley Restaurant
Steak House & Tavern
312 Main St., Exeter, Ontario
Tel. 235-1730
Page 29