Choctaw Area Council endures severe storm damage

MERIDIAN, Miss. - Servpro workers clean up what’s left of the Choctaw Area Council Boy Scouts of America. Scout Executive Ken Kercheval says he and his office manager were in the building during the time of the storm yesterday.

“I was actually mopping at the front door because water was blowing in the front door," said Kercheval. "We just started hearing a huge ripping noise and a lot of metal. We kind of took cover-didn’t know what it was.”

As a result of the severe storm, the majority of the ceiling tiles are gone, they received excessive water damage and installation is everywhere. Kercheval says all of it will have to be replaced.

“It ripped the complete membrane off the top of the roof-all 5,000 plus square feet. We probably had areas in the office with an least an inch or inch and a half of water sitting in it," explained Kercheval. "As it rained, it just kept pouring in.”

Kercheval says the crewman came in last night to assist with the cleanup. They’re trying to salvage what they can at this point.

“We’re just trying as much of the damage out--the wet stuff out. We’ve got all kinds of fans and blowers in there. We’re trying to move all our documents, computers and printers to safety," he said.

The council will have to relocate their office temporarily until the building is restored.

“That’s what insurance is for. Once that’s all done, we should be moved back with fresh paint, new carpet and our new roof," said Kercheval.

Kercheval says they will begin replacing the roof Thursday.