Construction Crews Work To Get Bacone College Ready For Students

In about a week's time, construction crews have been able to fix about half of the rooms. 

They've ripped out the carpet and replaced some of the furniture but they still have a lot of work to do.

With storm damage repair and construction happening all around them, some students are moving into to Bacone College student housing.

"You can see how things got rusted out effected by the water everywhere, everywhere because it came from above the water ran into every crevice of the building," said Leroy Thompson, Bacone College development director.

In late July, a storm ripped off the entire roof. Days later, heavy rain came pouring down. 

The falling water had a trickle effect damaging carpet, ceilings, furniture and walls in every room top to bottom.

Crews from Muskogee and even Dallas have been working hard, often into the night to get the rooms livable. 

"You can see what they are doing, every room has been marked to indicate what needs to be done to that room yet," Thompson said.

Thompson said crews have to keep working fast.

"Our goal ultimately is to have about 90 to 100 rooms and we're about half way there. And we have about half of that yet to do. But we are getting some 15 rooms done a day," he said.

This recent damage is the third the college has seen in six months time. 

The insurance is covering quite a bit, but that's leaves the school having to foot a bill of $150,000 or more. 

Thompson said although the outlook has been grim, he's seeing good things come out of this struggle.

"We are believing that God is going to hear our prayers and make it possible that we are going to get this done," Thompson said.

Classes start back August 24.