By Boris Ladwig, The Republic
bladwig@therepublic.com
Cummins Inc. estimates that flood damages to its four affected sites will exceed $100 million.
The Fortune 500 company's insurance coverage will cover all of the damages, except the deductible, which is a "small fraction" of the overall losses, said Mark Land, director of public relations.
The company will continue operations in Columbus Engine Plant, Cummins Technical Center and the occupational health center.
Company leaders are still weighing what to do with the fourth affected building, the Cummins Child Development Center.
Land said Cummins remains committed to offering child care, but given the center's location and flood dangers, the company is considering options including offering the service at another location.
Land said that the company still is compiling damage estimates, but restoring the tech center will require the bulk of the repair costs.
The basement levels of Tech Center's lab and offi ce buildings, which sit along a bend in Haw Creek, were flooding floor to ceiling, with up to 3 feet of standing water on the first floors.
The water damaged power substations and sensitive equipment, including electronic systems and the fiber optic network.
Land praised the employees and contractors who for more than three weeks have worked in three shifts to restore the facilities.
"A lot of people deserve a pat on the back. We're bouncing back quickly."
The company hopes to fully reopen the tech center early next week.
CEP still is being cleaned in parts, but production has returned to normal. The facility is, for now, housing some tech center employees.
The health center still is operating from its temporary location at the Fuel Systems plant, but Land said the company expects to return to the original facility, though he did not know when.