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SAINT PAUL CHURCH WEATHERS HURRICANE TO HELP OTHERS
ATLANTA, GA, APRIL 24, 2006 - The Board of Trustees of St. Paul United Methodist Church knew they were installing a durable and versatile floor when they first put in Taraflex® Sports Flooring by Gerflor. But they had no idea of what they and their facility would be providing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The Ocean Springs, MS church is at the crossroads of two highways, about a mile inland from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and not far above sea level. During the hurricane, the church housed about 40 people. The storm flooded the church’s 6,200 square foot Family Life Center, which serves as the sanctuary and gymnasium, with almost three inches of water. Within 48 hours that water was gone, says Senior Pastor Mitchell Hedgepeth. “Thankfully, the floor held up extremely well,” Pastor Hedgepeth explains, because immediately there were other plans for the space.
In just a few days, the church was transformed into a Red Cross Shelter for between 100 and 135 people for four weeks. Instead of basketballs, volleyballs and beanbags on the gym floor, there were cots set up in the Family Life Center. The hurricane evacuees have since left but the cots remain. In the following months, a steady stream of relief workers, as many as 4,000, have spent time living at St. Paul.
Despite the situation, church officials have tried all along to provide for their congregation and temporary guests.
“We still worship in there every Sunday morning,” says Pastor Hedgepeth. “The cots are removed and we set up 450 chairs each week. We have a rollout sound and computer system and a large portable stage and all of that sits on the Taraflex® floor. Plus, we play basketball in there five nights a week.”
“No one has noticed a difference in the flooring since the flooding,” says Pastor Hedgepeth. “I think it says a lot for Taraflex® and I would say the floor went beyond our expectations.”
The Taraflex® Sport M Maple Design floor had been installed with an Isolsport moisture barrier underneath. After the storm, the carpeting and vinyl tile that surrounded the Taraflex® wood toned floor had to be removed. It was replaced with Silver Gray Taraflex® in late 2005.
“We’re thankful the Taraflex® floor was able to play a small role to assist the people of St. Paul United Methodist Church in their efforts to help those greatly in need,” says Stephane Leudet, national sales manger. “Taraflex® floors are designed for durability and to withstand moisture but obviously this was an extreme situation and yet the floor remained undamaged.”
Southeastern Surfaces & Equipment of New Smyrna Beach, FL installed the additional Taraflex® Sports Flooring.
All Taraflex® synthetic floors are designed for safety and comfort. Their multi-layered construction includes 100% pure vinyl, a reinforced fiberglass grid and closed-cell foam backing to provide shock absorption, help fight fatigue and deliver consistent ball bounce. Product treatments ensure easy maintenance, stain resistance and prevention of mold and bacteria growth. Taraflex® floors meet and exceed the stringent performance standards mandated by all major flooring associations. Gerflor Sports Flooring, LLC is the exclusive agent for Gerflor Sports Flooring.
For more information, call 800-727-7505.