By Chris Schilling, The Republic
cschilling@therepublic.com
A $25 million surgery will be needed to heal Columbus Regional Hospital's flood wounds, according to early estimates.
Hospital officials said Friday they plan to repair the 17th Street facility, addressing rumors that the structure would be demolished.
"That is not the case," Chief Executive Officer Jim Bickel said. "We are going to recover and be bigger and better than we were before the flood."
A timeline for full recovery has not been established.
However, some services have opened at other Columbus sites, and officials hope to have emergency services restored in six to eight weeks.
Restoring emergency services will be funded by a $1 million contribution from the CRH Foundation and a community campaign to raise another $1 million.
The cost of renovating the rest of the hospital could change as officials continue to evaluate flood damage.
Haw Creek overflowed 13 to 14 feet into the hospital Saturday, leading to an evacuation of 157 patients.
The basement was entirely flooded and will have to be gutted down to the cement blocks.
The basement housed pharmacy, laboratory, mechanical, electrical and food services.
CRH's first floor also flooded with about 6 inches of water.
Bickel said flood and business interruption insurance will pay for some renovations.
About $25 million in funds earmarked for CRH's expansion project will help pay for some of the renovations and will cover employee salaries and benefits while the hospital is closed.
"We are not laying off CRH employees," Bickel said.