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Repairs begin for heavily-damaged South Houston High girls gym
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| A layer of dirt and an overhead light on the floor are testimony to the destructive powers that Hurricane Ike leveled on the South Houston girls gym. Repairs are under way, but the remainder of Lady Trojan matches will be moved to the boys gym. |
By ROBERT AVERY
SOUTH HOUSTON – The first time volleyball head coach Deana Garza looked at South Houston High School’s girls gymnasium after Hurricane Ike’s destructive path through the area, she had trouble composing herself.
There was very little inside the gym that Ike didn’t touch by time the storm left the area. Portions of the roof were gone and windows were knocked out, leaving the gym floor essentially destroyed because of large amounts of water.
Once Ike’s winds found a way inside the school’s decades-old gymnasium, it blew things around, even knocking down one of the overhead lights.
“Unfortunately, this is not the way I wanted a new floor or anything else,” Garza said Wednesday as she stepped inside the dark and dirty gym. “It’s so depressing. I cried for like five minutes. It’s my second house. I’m here more than I am at home.”
Two weeks since the storm, a dirt film covers the entire gym floor and puddles remain at two locations on the floor. Glass is also visible on the floor. The row of windows along the south side of the gym sustained considerable damage.
South Houston High School head football coach and athletic director C.L. Whittington described the roof as now having skylights.
About the only item that truly survived the storm are the numerous championship banners that continue to hang inside the gym as is the American flag, although down the road it may be discovered they have water damage.
The remainder of South Houston’s volleyball matches will be relocated to the boys’ gym. Not fitted with lines for a volleyball court, workers spent Wednesday doing just that, preparing for district matches today and Saturday.
But the girls gym has begun the long road to its pre-Hurricane Ike condition. First up for the patient was the damaged roof where workers were busy starting repairs.
“I’m telling you, we have a very good custodial group and a very good maintenance crew because they have worked double time to try and make sure we keep playing,” Garza said. “I come in the morning they’re here. I come in the evening, they’re here.”
It will take that kind of manpower in the weeks and months to come in order for the smile to return to Garza’s face when she steps inside her home-away-from home.
There was very little inside the gym that Ike didn’t touch by time the storm left the area. Portions of the roof were gone and windows were knocked out, leaving the gym floor essentially destroyed because of large amounts of water.
Once Ike’s winds found a way inside the school’s decades-old gymnasium, it blew things around, even knocking down one of the overhead lights.
“Unfortunately, this is not the way I wanted a new floor or anything else,” Garza said Wednesday as she stepped inside the dark and dirty gym. “It’s so depressing. I cried for like five minutes. It’s my second house. I’m here more than I am at home.”
Two weeks since the storm, a dirt film covers the entire gym floor and puddles remain at two locations on the floor. Glass is also visible on the floor. The row of windows along the south side of the gym sustained considerable damage.
South Houston High School head football coach and athletic director C.L. Whittington described the roof as now having skylights.
About the only item that truly survived the storm are the numerous championship banners that continue to hang inside the gym as is the American flag, although down the road it may be discovered they have water damage.
The remainder of South Houston’s volleyball matches will be relocated to the boys’ gym. Not fitted with lines for a volleyball court, workers spent Wednesday doing just that, preparing for district matches today and Saturday.
But the girls gym has begun the long road to its pre-Hurricane Ike condition. First up for the patient was the damaged roof where workers were busy starting repairs.
“I’m telling you, we have a very good custodial group and a very good maintenance crew because they have worked double time to try and make sure we keep playing,” Garza said. “I come in the morning they’re here. I come in the evening, they’re here.”
It will take that kind of manpower in the weeks and months to come in order for the smile to return to Garza’s face when she steps inside her home-away-from home.
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