Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Journal photo/ Kathy Borchers
Icicles hang from the exterior of the Garner Building, 40 Fountain St., Providence, where a burst pipe spilled water on several floors. The Providence Biltmore is reflected in the window.

PROVIDENCE -- Several state employees at the General Treasurer's Office and Department of Health and Human Services were sent home this morning after a pipe burst on the sixth floor of the Garner Building, 40 Fountain St.

The floor houses the Department of Health and Human Services' Disability Determination Services. A state employee said there were 3 to 4 inches of standing water in some places and lots of puddles elsewhere, said Tim Gray, a spokesman for the treasurer, whose offices occupy the 1st, 7th and 8th floors.

Power was shut off in most of the building as crews worked on pumping out the water.

The pipe has been repaired, according to a news release this afternoon from the Office of Rehabilitation Services, which includes the Disability Determination Services unit.

The Office of Rehabilitation Services, which also includes Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Vocational Rehabilitation Program, will stay up and running but will work out of other places including the Department of Administration, local One Stop Centers and other community organizations.

Case workers with the Department of Health and Human Services called clients this morning to offer an alternate meeting location or reschedule appointments, said spokeswoman Anne-Marie Beardsworth. Most employees were sent to work at alternate locations. Those employees who chose to go home took personal or vacation time, Beardsworth said.

The Office of Rehabilitation Services said this afternoon that counselors in the office are calling all people who have appointments scheduled for Monday to notify them of a different location for their appointment.

People can reschedule appointments if unable to meet at the new location.

People who appear for services at 40 Fountain St. will be met in the building lobby by a staff member and directed to the most appropriate different location.

Customer information is at (401) 421-7005. People served by Office of Rehabilitation Services can call that number and leave a message including their name, telephone number and reason for calling. Staff will retrieve messages over the weekend and will return calls as needed.

All staff are expected to report to work, the Office of Rehabilitation Services said. Managers will contact staff over the weekend to tell them where to report on Monday.

The Department of Administration is working with the landlord to get the 40 Fountain St. building ready for occupancy as soon as possible, according to the news release.

No records were damaged, treasurer's spokesman Gray said.

Non-critical employees in Treasury were sent home this morning, said Gray, but the offices were still open for business.

Video: Firefighters respond to the Gardner Building

-- Reports from projo.com staff writers Maria Armental and Michael P. McKinney

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