Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas told the Troy Rotary Club the flooding of the Pike County Judicial Complex was a complete disaster. 

Thomas said during the snowfall and freezing temperatures on Jan. 21, multiple O-rings failed in the water circulation system for the complex’s HVAC system. Thomas said one of the failures was on the third floor and the water flowed down from the third floor to the ground floor. Thomas said the water was tinted blue and there were concerns about what chemicals were in the water. 

“The second or third day, the water was blue,” Thomas said. “We found out 48 hours, 52 hours into it that it contained two hazardous chemicals. I went to the consultant and the architect and said ‘What are the chemicals in this water?’ You don’t treat chemicals with 30 dehumidifiers in the building because it’s moving that air. 

“We were getting scratchy throats, throats were raw, coughs, headaches, chemical burns on our faces,” Thomas said. “Forty employees have written down their symptoms. This is not to be taken lightly. So, I locked our building down. I said we’re not going back to it.” 

Thomas said the PCSO and the Pike County Circuit Clerk had moved into the basement of the Pike County Courthouse and were operating from there. 

Pike County Commission Chairman Chad Copeland said he had talked with both Thomas and Pike County Circuit Clerk Jamie Scarbrough about moving their office to the courthouse. 

Copeland released a statement on Tuesday to address ongoing health concerns at the Judicial Complex. Copeland’s statement is as follows:

“Following the flooding event on January 22, Alabama Restoration was engaged immediately to begin water extraction and debris removal, including ceiling tiles. During this process, we were informed of the presence of additives in the HVAC water system. Out of an abundance of caution, we consulted both the manufacturer of the additives and an independent testing laboratory. Their guidance confirmed that following standard cleanup procedures would be sufficient, and no further remediation would be required.

“Alabama Restoration proceeded with cleaning using the recommended solutions. Additionally, to ensure the safety of our employees and visitors, we requested an air quality test, even though it was not initially recommended. That testing yielded normal results. After completing cleaning and air scrubbing, the building reopened on January 28. 

“After reopening, some employees on the first floor reported experiencing discomfort. In response, we immediately engaged our insurance carrier to facilitate further testing to verify that all contaminants were properly removed. Out of caution and in consideration of employee concerns, we have supported any office requesting to close or relocate while this additional testing and cleaning is completed.

“The safety and well-being of all staff and visitors remain our top priority. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”

Thomas said the flood caused an extreme amount of damage to the carpet, sheet rock and ceiling tiles. He said there could also be rust issues with the building’s metal frames in the future. In addition, Thomas said there was a complete loss of most of the office equipment in the PCSO, including a brand new $10,000 copy machine.

Thomas said the PCSO was operating from the basement of the courthouse and the circuit clerk’s staff had moved back into their old space in the courthouse building.