Flood Destroys Search Group's Office

DICKINSON, Texas -- A broken water pipe flooded the offices of Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team Friday, News2Houston reported.

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See Flood Damage At EquuSearch

The pipe broke overnight when no one was inside the Galveston County office, located at 4103 FM 517 at FM 1266. When the staff arrived to open the office, they found three inches of water on the floor.

"I (saw) all the water and was kind of in shock I just didn't know what to do. I knew we had a (missing person) case to work today and we had a lot of stuff to do. I just basically broke down and cried first," said Tim Miller, the director of EquuSearch.

EquuSearch volunteers spent Friday gutting the office and removing soaked carpet, sheetrock and ruined business equipment.

The group is a nonprofit, volunteer organization of approximately 200 members that searches for missing persons.

EquuSearch is out of business temporarily, until the office equipment and facilities can be replaced, according to officials.

The office building was covered by insurance, but the equipment was not.

"The moisture to the machines, computers and everything else, is the worst thing you can have and we've got a lot of that. You pick up a box with a copier in it and it just pours water out of it," said Fred Niday, the search director.

EquuSearch is not sure when the office will reopen.

The group is asking for donations of office equipment or monetary contributions. Anyone who would like to help should call (281) 309-9500.