Water damage updates: Cleanup continues after burst pipes plague area

Updated 3:11 p.m. — Banking operations interrupted

The damage at Maine Family Credit Union offices in Lewiston and Auburn was bad enough to affect banking operations and communications.

Updated 12:13 p.m. — Several pipes burst in Oak Hill High School, students moved to remote learning

WALES — Prekindergarten classes were canceled and high school students were moved to remote learning in Regional School Unit 4 Monday due to water damage caused by the extreme cold over the weekend.

Since Saturday, several pipes and sprinkler heads have burst at Oak Hill High School, flooding and causing damage to classrooms, hallways and the kitchen.

A chemistry classroom sustained significant damage after a pipe in the ceiling burst, according to Superintendent Katy Grondin. Water has also been leaking near the school’s computer server, creating concern.

School staff and technicians began repairing the utilities and cleaning up the water early this morning. Once their initial fixes were complete, the water was turned back on.

It took just 25 minutes for another pipe to burst.

“The high school did not weather well,” Grondin said.

A pipe also burst this weekend at Libby Tozier Primary School in Litchfield, flooding both of the prekindergarten classrooms.

Prekindergarten classes were canceled and high school students were moved to remote learning to allow the district time to make repairs, dry out flooded areas and assess the damage, Grondin said.

She expects prekindergarten and high school classes will resume in person Tuesday.

RSU 4 serves students in Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales.

— Vanessa Paolella, Sun Journal

Updated 11:22 a.m. — Lewiston DHHS office closed after pipes burst

A Servpro worker carries debris Monday out of the DHHS office in Lewiston. Frozen pipes burst in the weekend’s severe cold. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services district office at 200 Main St. was closed temporarily Monday morning after water and electrical damage was discovered because of a burst pipe from the weekend’s extreme cold.

Officials released a statement Monday morning saying “the office is undergoing repairs and will reopen to the public and employees as soon as possible to ensure continued access to critical benefits and services.”

Updated Saturday

A firefighter watches water gush out of the office building at 2 Great Falls Plaza in Auburn shortly after 8:15 pm Saturday. Details of the damage were not available. Vanessa Paolella/Sun Journal

This story will be updated.