Friedman Electric, Exeter, Pa., is recovering from a natural disaster as its Bloomsburg, Pa., branch was filled with between 15 and 29 inches of water as a result of the recent flooding in the Northeast.
Despite moving inventory to higher shelves at the Bloomsburg branch and relocating inventory to nearby Howard Organization, a commercial/industrial electrical contracting company also in Bloomsburg, damage is estimated to be somewhere in the range of $200,000.
Friedman Electric’s Bloomsburg branch flooded when a tributary of the Susquehanna River overflowed. Although Friedman Electric also evacuated its branch in Wilkes Barre, Pa., which is about 50 miles northeast of Bloomsburg, that branch did not end up receiving any damage. Both branches are located near the Susquehanna River.
Employees moved inventory in Bloomsburg on the evening of June 27 and through the day on June 28 until the water literally chased them out of the building, according to John Plotts, Bloomsburg branch manager. At that point, all they could do was go to higher ground and let the damage occur.
Friedman Electric employees from several branches came in to help cleanup and get the store up and running again.
Although some orders were filled in the days immediately following the clean-up, the branch was able to open for more efficient business on July 3. This was the worst flooding at the branch since 1972.