Gainesboro Library Closed Due to Flood Damage

The Charles Ralph Holland Memorial Library in Gainesboro is temporarily closed after floodwater made its way into the building.

Library Director Catherine Huddleston said storms caused flooding to damage flooring throughout the library.

“It flooded all the way to the very back of the library about a good standing three inches in some places… so we are getting a new floor,” Huddleston said.

The new flooring, Huddleston said, is covered by insurance. However, a lot of work has to be done before the new flooring can be installed at the library.

“They’ve had to move out all my books, all my computers, all my equipment, and box everything up,” Huddleston said. “They will be putting down new floor hopefully soon as soon as it can get ordered and we can get some workers in. Then we will begin putting the library back together again.”

Other than the flooring, Huddleston said the only thing damaged by floodwater was a single box of books. She hopes the new flooring will be installed soon and predicts the library will reopen by August 1.

Storms at the end of June caused severe flooding across the Upper Cumberland region, with Gainesboro receiving most of the impact as streets flooded across town. A backed-up storm drain caused floodwaters to rise, eventually entering the library.

Huddleston said she hopes the issue is resolved so the library doesn’t flood again in the future.