Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products & Technologies
    • Submit Your Product
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • EDUCATION
    • KnowHow.
    • Podcasts
    • Trade Shows & Expos
    • Training & Certification
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
  • TOPICS
    • Water Damage
    • Fire & Smoke Damage
    • Mold
    • Contamination
    • Odor
    • Contents
    • Architecture
    • Catastrophe
    • Cleaning
  • BUSINESS
    • Managing Your Business
    • Insurance/Legal Matters
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • VIDEOS
    • Ask Annissa
    • Ask the Expert
    • Ironclad Marketing Minute
    • TradeTalks
    • Video Channel
  • INFOCENTER
    • Mold and Mycotoxins
  • THE EXPERIENCE
    • Conference & Exhibition
    • Convention & Trade Show
    • R&R Special Issue
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Catastrophe Restoration

Restoring a Tornado-Ravaged Gym in Small-Town Ohio

By Mandi Clark
April 23, 2012


Seven tornadoes touched down across the Tri-State area of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio on March 2, 2012, the largest of which were in Holton, IN, Crittenden and Piner, KY, and Moscow, OH. All of the tornadoes measured at EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Rob Hanavan and his crew at Rainbow International of Cincinnati were called in by area insurance agents in an attempt to board up windows and save what they could as the storms moved toward Moscow, a small southwestern Ohio village with a population of 310. However, road closures prevented Hanavan’s four dispatched crews from entering town and they were forced to retreat.

What ensued was a tornado that measured a quarter-mile wide. Winds reached an astonishing 160 mph as it ripped across 20 miles of land. In its path was Moscow, where homes were blown to bits and trees were broken in half. Only two out of 10 historic homes survived the storm, and the tornado is blamed for destroying more than 70% of the town.



“The damage was unlike anything I’d ever seen,” said Jeff Markovic of Pillar Insurance in Cincinnati. “The biggest problem is where to start when you have a whole village that has been destroyed. You’re never really prepared for that kind of thing. The size and scope of the damage was devastating. Some places were completely wiped off the map.”

After the storm, Hanavan was called back to check on the damage, specifically the damage to the Moscow Community Center. The center was opened in October 2004 and was made possible by a community development grant. The main feature of the building is the gym, a place where local residents gather for exercise classes and activities like basketball. The building’s roof had been picked up and thrown 100 feet, but amazingly, the building itself still stood.

 “The gym floor was very wet,” said Hanavan. “It had standing water on it when we showed up. It was reading in the high 20s on the moisture equivalency scale underneath the finish, which normally means the floor cannot be saved.



“Gym floors are unusual. They are very hard to dry, and this one was much wetter than any I had previously worked on. The concrete on the ceiling was soaking wet.”

On a previous gym floor restoration job, the crew tented the entire gym floor with desiccant air from a portable unit and then pulled six inches of wood flooring from both sides of the gym, while running four LGR dehumidifiers underneath.

“We were successful on that gym floor restoration, but we had a hard time keeping heat up under the tents,” Hanavan says.

So to save the Moscow Community Center’s gym floor, they took similar action, but with a modification to better keep heat under the tents. To do this, they decided to put a double tent over the floor, which provided an insulating gap that minimized the cubic footage of area to be dried. They also removed a board from the floor to relieve pressure and keep the floor from buckling. (Making sure that the floor didn’t buckle was crucial, considering that a total replacement of the floor was likely.)

After achieving good results, the crew was able to save the gym floor, which was valued at $70,000.



In total, it cost $23,000 to save the building and floor plus $6,000 to refinish the gym wood floor. It was originally thought that an additional $150,000 in repairs was needed, but with the Rainbow International crew’s restoration plan, the additional costly repairs were unnecessary. The building and floor renovation took a week and a half. It took another three weeks for the floor to be finished.

Technical support from the Rainbow International home office was also important to the success of the job.

“In the end, we’re glad to do what we do,” Hanavan concluded. “I believe my team has the best training, technology, equipment, support and staff around. But it’s all for nothing if we lose sight of the very real and very human element of what we do as restoration service professionals. We restore so our customers can recover from terrible events like these. That’s our job and we’re proud to do it.”

KEYWORDS: air movers case study disaster restoration drying equipment flood damage restoration

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Mandi Clark is the Public Relations Specialist for Rainbow International Corporate in Waco, Texas. Reach her at mandi.clark@rainbowintl.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mold remediation

    Fighting Mold and Bacteria Damage

    Successful mold remediation can be multidisciplinary,...
    Contamination Restoration & Remediation​
    By: Josh Woolen
  • certifications and licenses for restoration professionals

    Certifications and Licenses Every Restoration Company Needs

    Restoration companies need to make sure they have the...
    Restoration Training/Education
    By: Sharon Elzarat
  • a wall covered in moss and fungus

    Zero Tolerance for Toxic Molds: Essential Steps for Successful Remediation

    Understanding the importance of zero tolerance for toxic...
    Mold Remediation
    By: Michael A. Pinto CSP, SMS, CMP, RTPE, FLS, ERS and Kendra Seymour
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Popular Stories

Pop Art Female Superhero Punches a Masked Villain

TPAs vs. Independence: The Restoration Industry’s Own Version of the Cola Wars

RIA Carrier Advocate Mark Springer

Turning the Page: A New Era of Trust and Collaboration in Restoration

Paul Davis Restoration Leadership Team

Justin Graham Expands Paul Davis Restoration’s Reach with Acquisition of Greater Seattle Franchise

Submit Your New Product/Technology to R&R!

Would you like to promote a new restoration, remediation or cleaning product/technology with Restoration & Remediation? Fill out the question below to start your submission:

Events

September 3, 2025

The Experience Convention and Trade Show

The Experience Convention & Trade Show logoJoin us in Las Vegas for The Experience Convention & Trade Show, the leading event for cleaning, restoration, and remediation pros, packed with hands-on demos, expert speakers, and high-impact networking. Happening September 3–5, 2025 at Caesars Forum—this is where the industry comes to learn, connect, and grow!

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Doffing PPE

When you are doffing your PPE, do you sanitize between every step?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary.

See More Products
Prepare for CATASTROPHE with R&R!

Related Articles

  • CAT Restoration in Tornado-Ravaged Mayfield, Kentucky

    CAT Restoration in Tornado-Ravaged Mayfield, Kentucky

    See More
  • Photos courtesy of ServiceMaster Restore

    Restoring Hattiesburg: Rebuilding after a Deadly EF3 Tornado

    See More
  • Case Study: Drying a 35,000 Square-Foot Store

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • red-guide-national-815.png

    National Red Guide - A Step by Step Guide to Disaster Recovery

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Rytech Restoration

    Rytech Restoration provides 24 hour emergency restoration service by certified technicians trained to get homes and commercial properties back to normal efficiently and fast! As a leading disaster restoration network, our local experts utilize advanced detection devices to minimize demolition and industrial-grade equipment to rapidly dry water and fire damage and prevent mold growth. We specialize in water damage restoration repair, fire and smoke cleanup, mold removal, mold remediation, decontamination, and flood damage cleanup services. Live specialists are standing by 24/7 ready to answer your questions and dispatch a Rytech tech to your door.
  • Rytech Restoration of the Midlands

    No one plans for the destruction caused by water, fire or mold, but when it happens, the team at Rytech Restoration of The Midlands is here to help. Our certified specialists provide 24/7 emergency service to get you and your Columbia SC home or business back to normal as quickly as possible. From residential homes to commercial buildings, we specialize in mold remediation, water damage restoration, and fire and smoke damage cleanup. Our live specialists are ready to answer your questions and dispatch a local specialist to your door. Schedule a free inspection and estimate today!
  • First General Services

    First General was established in 1980 and is one of North America's largest restoration networks, with over 80 offices in Canada. For over 40 years, First General has been a leading choice for emergency and restoration services for insurers, municipalities, government agencies and property owners during times of crisis.
×

Stay ahead of the curve with our eNewsletters.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Submit a Press Release
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Reprints
    • Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing