mistidawn

Do you see the center of the room where the ceiling fell in?

Thats where i was....

This is the animal shelter i work at.

Here's the story...

The woman who works up front was at lunch so Zach and I were covering for her. We were out of soft cat food so I was making a list of things I was going to get at Petsmart. I then heard a snap then something brush aginst the back of my neck. It only FELT like something brushing its was actually the dropceiling light and ait vent falling on me. I had no ide what was going on. I thought it was an earthquake even though i felt nothing shaking. Their was a kitten walking around the desk and I grabed him up and got under the desk. When everything settled i ran out of the room as my mom (the director) came to the front an told everyone to get out of the building. No sooner than that the rest of the ceiling fell. Zach rushed me to the hospital. Don't worry kids, some how i didnt even get a scratch. Just some brusing. It was just nuts. I still dont understand.

Here is the story from the paper

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Henderson County Humane Society employee Misti ***** had little time to react Monday afternoon when the ceiling in the office area began collapsing around her.

"I was sitting at the desk filling out a list of what I needed from PetsMart. I heard a crackle and felt something brush my neck," she said. "The light and the air conditioning unit had fallen. I grabbed a cat and jumped under the desk. I thought it was an earthquake. It happened so fast."

****, who was hit by some of the falling ceiling, suffered bruises to her spine and was treated and released from Methodist Hospital.

Another employee, Zach *****, and three cats, Lucky, Oreo and Wannabe, who were also in the office when the ceiling gave way, were uninjured. Wally, a fourth cat that was in the office, is still missing in action but not presumed dead.

Debbie ****, director of the humane society, said she was working in the back when the ceiling fell.

"When they ran back and told me the ceiling caved in, I thought maybe a tile had fallen," she said. But after getting a look at the situation, she said she decided to evacuate the front part of the building.

And it was a good thing, too.

"The first part fell and we were getting people and animals out (of the office) and then the second part fell," she said.

None of the animals being housed in the back part of the shelter were injured.

"(The office) isn't the crucial part of the building," Debbie **** said. "Because everyone back there is safe."

And the ceiling in that part of the building doesn't appear in any danger of collapsing, she said. "Everything is OK."

Henderson Fire Lt. Jerry Long said the collapse appears to have been caused by "inadequate installation."

Connie Keeling, board chairman of the Henderson County Humane Society, the next step will be to price materials and get an estimate on electrical work.

The work will be funded from money set aside in the budget for general maintenance, he said. "We'll be responsible for the repairs."

In the meantime, the humane society will continue operating as usual, Debbie **** said.

"We set up a temporary office in the back and we'll be operating through the back. We can't let anyone up front at all," she said.

"If you have animals you want to get rid of, please hang on to them for now," she said. "Everyone just be patient with us."

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