Amarillo, Texas-based Northwest Surgical Center and the Northwest Physicians Group – Specialty Clinic evacuated around 200 people on Aug. 19 after a broken pipe flooded the facility, according to a news release from the Amarillo Fire Department shared with Becker’s.
Northwest Surgical Center and Northwest Physicians Group – Specialty Clinic are part of Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, according to an Aug. 20 news release shared with Becker’s.
Another medical clinic, owned by BSA Health System and located in the same building as Northwest Surgical, was also impacted, the Amarillo Globe-News reported Aug. 20.
At 4:09 p.m., the Amarillo Fire Department was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival eight minutes later, crews found water coming from Northwest Surgical’s entrance, with six inches of standing water across the facility. The flooding also caused ceiling tiles to hang in the facility. Medical equipment was covered with tarps to prevent damage.
“Upon investigation, it was determined that a 2-inch water line had broken under the foundation feeding the fire riser room,” the fire department’s news release said. “Water flowed for several minutes before it could be shut off, resulting in approximately six inches of standing water throughout the 150,000-square-foot building.”
Around 200 people, mainly employees, were evacuated safely. No injuries were reported, and one post-surgical patient was transferred to Northwest Texas Hospital.
Structural and electrical engineers are scheduled to inspect the building.
“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our patients,” said Oliver Ostorga, COO of NWTHS, said in the release. “We are working diligently to assess the damage and restore services at the Soncy [street] building as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we have a robust plan in place to ensure that all scheduled procedures and specialty clinic appointments proceed without disruption.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Aug. 20 at 1:08 p.m. Central time.
