Flood shuts down state computer facility

The state's centralized computer systems "dodged a bullet" Thursday night when water flooded the mechanical-electrical room in the computer facility.

Department of Information Technology Director Terry Savage said the water never reached the computers themselves. The building houses several million dollars worth of computers, which manage a variety of functions including state personnel, payroll and the integrated financial systems.

"The bottom line is we had a flood that resulted from some of the expansion work being done," he said. "It shorted out the entire electrical operation."

He said he was pleased with the response not only by his staff, but Buildings and Grounds, the Carson City Fire Department and other agencies.

"Everybody involved was just perfect. The guys just had a fabulous response and we dodged a bullet," he said.

The building houses not only houses the state's central computer systems but communications equipment for the Nevada Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation. But Savage said that equipment was on its own backup generator and that "the communications system never went down."

He said crews worked through the night and, by Friday morning, had all systems back on line. But he said there was some damage in the building.

"We've got some repair work to do," he said.

Crews were still assessing damage and no estimate of what it will cost to repair was available.

-- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.