Ramone's flood causes $100,000 in damage

By Brandi Barhite, Sandusky Register, Tuesday, February 3, 2004
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY
A broken sprinkler system caused an estimated $100,000 in damage at Ramone's on Sunday, according to the Sandusky Fire Department.

The pipes froze and then broke in the unheated banquet facility, sometime after 10 a.m., flooding the Fremont Avenue building.

"We are going to continue to function and be ready for a party on Thursday," said Ramone's chef Paul Lang, adding that nothing is scheduled until then.

Sandusky police were driving by the empty 15,730-square-foot facility at 5:30 p.m. and heard the fire alarm, and saw water rushing from the front windows and doors. Lang had left the building at 10 a.m. Sunday. The facility hadn't held a function since Thursday, Lang said.

The fire department was called and broke into the back of the building. After seeing no fire, they turned off the sprinkler system. At least 30 percent of the building has "extensive damage," said Battalion Chief Tamie Myers.

Lang said the lobby, which is where the pipe broke, took the biggest hit with damage to th0 ceiling, walls and carpet. The water also spread into the dining hall

Myers said a building with a wet fire suppression unit, which she believes Ramone's has; should be kept at least 40 degrees, according to fire code. Myers said it doesn't take long for the water to freeze when it's 7 degrees outside. Ramone's owner Larry Findley could not be reached for comment Monday.

Lang said it's protocol for Ramone's to turn off the heat at the end of the day, but doesn't know if that will change because of what happened.

Obviously, "that's not a good thing to do, though," he said Monday.

Lang did not know if the facility would need new carpet. Monday, the carpet was being dried, he said.

Ramone's opened on Fremont Avenue in 1992, Lang said. The Rotary Club is holding its weekly luncheon at the facility Thursday.

Note: RestorePro Disaster Restoration was called out during the Super Bowl to clean up the water damage, and begin the structural drying process. A full crew worked through the night to stabilize the loss. All clean-up and drying of the structure and contents was completed in less than four days.

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