MOBILE, Ala. — A busted six-inch fire main pipe is what sent a million gallons of water pouring into the basement of a downtown Mobile office building, according to the company that manages the property.
The flood hit Merchants Plaza on Tuesday, Sept. 13, submerging the lower level in seven and a half feet of water. Jason Scott, an asset manager for Sterling Properties, said the ruptured fire main was the source.
Office Levels Affected; Apartments Spared
Scott said only the building’s office workers were affected by the flooding — residents of the apartments upstairs were untouched, and no other floors took on water. The basement flood did damage key equipment, however, including an electrical switch gear and the pump that activates the building’s sprinkler system.
In the days after the flood, the office portion of the building remained without power and off-limits to everyone. Scott and contractors have been working to restore the building, using a temporary generator to help dry out the basement, though there was no timeline yet for when the building would be back to normal.