Pipe burst causes damage at Amsterdam senior center

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On May 28, a pipe burst at the Horace J. Inman Senior Center in Amsterdam. Mary Jo Wells, the Executive Director of the community center, who was in the building at the time of the incident, described the extent of the damage.

"It was ankle deep," Wells explained, highlighting the severity of the situation. She further elaborated, stating, "It was when I ran down. And it was ankle deep, and the water was coming right out of the wall. It was gushing. It looked like Niagara Falls."

Efforts have been underway since last week to repair the damage. Wells doesn't know when the repairs will be done, but expressed optimism, "We have an ice cream social coming up in July."

The community center serves as a hub for various activities, including fitness classes, game nights, and communal meals. Wells emphasized the importance of the center to the local community, "Bingo day, we have people that come here about 10:30, and they some sit over there and they play cards. And then we have a group that sits here and they play cards. And then at 11:00 when the kitchen opens, they get their lunch, and then they play bingo."

With summer in full swing, the center also serves as a refuge from the heat for many community members. Wells noted, "We are a cooling station while we're open."

The exact cost is yet to be determined, but Wells expressed hope for support from the community. "If it's wear and tear, the insurance company doesn't cover it. So we're hoping for some donations and we're hoping for, I don't know, somebody to take care of us."

As the community center works towards restoration, members of the community eagerly await its reopening, eager to resume Bingo.