Damage to Inn Roof Gets Attention
Photo: Rich McManus
During repairs to its roof, the Children’s Inn at NIH sustained structural damage on Aug. 21, forcing temporary evacuation of the facility while engineers checked out the problem. The next day, cranes (above) were used to remove construction materials from the damaged roof. The problem occurred when a roofing contractor placed a large amount of construction material on the roof, causing it to sag. Inn residents were relocated to area hotels at the time of the accident and 10 apartments were rented to accommodate families. The facility partially reopened by week’s end; 23 of 59 rooms were deemed safe to occupy. NIH facilities staff will determine the cause of the sagging, which occurred atop the inn’s bistro. Meanwhile, the inn asked for community support in sponsoring meals, making donations, making goodie bags for families and providing other needed items. For more information on inn emergencies, visit http://childrensinn.org/emergency/.