Here’s a glimpse at what the Pattonsburg R-2 School District confronted during and just after the first flood of 1993.

Pattonsburg R-2 Superintendent Gene Walker was optimistic that school would open on schedule Aug. 26 — before the second flood hit. Insurance coverage through the Missouri United School Insurance Council (with extra coverage with Hartford Insurance) promised to provide extensive repairs.

Volunteer efforts to save as much school property as possible from the water damage impressed insurance adjusters, according to Supt. Walker. PHS staff and faculty, teachers from Albany, FFA members from King City, prisoners from Western Missouri Correctional Center all helped. Offers from Gilman City, North Mercer and elsewhere were also received.

And quick action made a difference. Portable generators, for example, ran continuously for five days to keep food freezers used for the disaster kitchen in operation. School buses were safely relocated. Shop equipment, computer equipment and other high dollar items were saved thanks to volunteers, some Mr. Walker had never seen before the disaster hit or since.

A survey team from Kansas City Metro Renovators Inc. indicated extensive repairs would include removal or extensive treatment to all porous materials. The entire gymnasium sub-floor and surface plus floors and doorways throughout the ground level of the school building will be replaced. No dollar estimate on the loss at the school has been assessed.

Mr. Walker said the total could exceed $300,000. Six truckloads of debris had been hauled off from the school with a couple more piles ready for removal.

Then the second flood hit Pattonsburg.

— written by Darryl Wilkinson, editor, Gallatin North Missourian, 1993

A sign the 1993 flood might be over appeared as debris began to be removed from Pattonsburg R-2 School.

Room by room the flood damage was extensive in Pattonsburg R-2 School after the flood of 1993.

Water damage buckled floor boards without exception throughout the school’s main floor.

What couldn’t be salvaged was sacked as trash and thrown out school windows. The sorting involved was time consuming.

Trash accumulated on the schoolyard until removal could be arranged.

School supplies in good condition were taken to the gymnasium to be sorted and reused.