By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-905404.mp3
Dallas, TX – It's going to cost about a million dollars to get the Dallas County Records Building dried out, and the computers back up, after Monday night's water main break. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
Dallas County Judge Jim Foster says it is expensive to pump six feet of water from the basement, get a generator to provide power, plus buy a new, giant surge protector for the county computer system, which was knocked offline by the flooding.
Forster calls the water main break an unfortunate accident. He says the Dallas water system downtown is old, and so is the Records Building, with its basement configuration.
Foster: Nowadays I don't think buildings would be designed in such a way that that could happen. That building is probably 70 years old. You know that was just the state of technology back in those days, and that's just the way the building is constructed and there's nothing we can do about it. If we had a major flood, it would happen all over again.
Judge Foster says the County computers could be up and running by Friday, but the Records Building probably won't reopen until Monday.
Vehicle registration may be done at tax offices in outlying cities. Building registration, property deeds, and other things are being done in the Allen Courts building. Collin County is issuing marriage licenses in the meantime. Jail visitation is suspended until the computer system is restored. But courts are in session, and Judge Foster says you must report for jury duty.