Protecting the Music: Recovery After a Band Hall Pipe Burst.

Just before Christmas 2022, a severe cold snap reached East Texas and caused pipes to burst inside the Nacogdoches High School band hall.

The broken pipes flooded the facility, damaging areas used by students and educators. The effects extended beyond the band hall because it shared heating and air-conditioning systems with the nearby auditorium. Nacogdoches ISD reported that the timing and complexity of the work required contractors to wait until the end of the school year to complete the larger repairs.

In April 2023, the Nacogdoches ISD Board of Trustees approved a proposal with SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County to repair the affected areas. The documented work included replacing damaged flooring, repairing walls, and replacing ceiling tiles.

More Than a Building

For the school district, the project was about more than repairing a building. The band hall is where students rehearse, learn discipline, prepare for performances, and build relationships that often last throughout their school years.

The loss also illustrated one of the challenges presented by freezing weather in East Texas. Damage may not become visible until frozen pipes begin to thaw, allowing water to move quickly through ceilings, walls, flooring, and adjoining spaces.

Coordinated Recovery

Restoration required coordination among district administrators, facilities personnel, contractors, and the SERVPRO team. Work had to be carefully scheduled around the academic calendar while addressing the damaged building materials and preparing the space for students and staff.

The project demonstrated the importance of having trusted local restoration resources available when an unexpected property loss affects a school and the students who depend on it.

Cold weather damaged the building, but planning, cooperation, and professional restoration helped move the band program toward recovery.