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On April 27, 2011, a series of tornadoes ripped across the Southern US causing millions of dollars of damage and several lives were lost in the devastation. One of these tornadoes came directly across the campus at Ringgold High School in Ringgold, Georgia, a small community in Northwest Georgia just below Chattanooga, Tennessee. Four people were killed in the area that evening and the next morning the devastation was revealed. Students had to be relocated to other schools in the county to complete the academic year.
BELFOR Property Restoration, a large national company that works primarily in disaster settings was called to the scene immediately from their Atlanta office. Warner's Athletic Construction was contacted on May 4, 2011 and arrived in Ringgold that same day. Since that time, WAC has been contracted for over $2,100,000.00+ worth of repairs and renovations to the school athletic fields and facilities. WAC was able to mobilize a team of the very best in the business to get the school's facilities back on track and available for student use.
Specifically, WAC is totally rebuilding the baseball field which was decimated by the tornado. Both dugouts have been rebuilt, over 1.5 million pounds of top soil has been brought in to put the baseball field back. Irrigation has been installed, and the backstop walls, poles, nets, foul poles, etc. are being replaced. New bermuda sod and some of the finest infield clay available is being installed and the field will be ready for play in the spring.
WAC has been contracted for the replacement of the entire bleachers and press box for the football stadium after the old stands were removed. The new bleachers will have a total capacity of over 6,000 fans allowing the school to host both the district and region playoffs which prior to the tornado they were not able to do. Completion of the bleachers for football is scheduled for January 2012. WAC is also working in cooperation with Shaw industries who is providing synthetic turf for the football field and it is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.
Additionally, WAC is contracted for the installation of the new lights for both baseball and football as well as tennis, all of which lost all their lights during the tornado. The lights are now up (except for tennis which is moving to a new location) and will be completed by the end of October.
WAC was awarded the contract for the resurfacing of the school's running track and the old surface has been removed and installation of the new surface will begin on October 24. Additionally WAC will be replacing all the pole vault standards, landing pads and chute, the discus throw cage, and high jump standards and landing pads.
WAC has also installed the new rubber flooring in the school's field house weight room allowing the football players to have a place to finally work out on campus.
WAC also will be providing both football and baseball with a totally new sound system, complete with wireless microphones and the latest in stadium speaker and broadcast technology.
Warner's Athletic would like to thank the entire team that has been working with them for the renovation of the school's athletic facilities:
- Athletic Fields: Warner's Athletic Construction Co.
- Field Lighting: Reynolds Electric
- Track Resurfacing and Tennis Courts: Baseline Sports Construction
- Sound System: AV Creators
- Steel, Netting, and Athletic Field Accessories: Russell Batting Cages
- Bleachers: Dant Clayton Corporation
Over the next few days and weeks, we will be showing photographs that have been taken during the renovation process from the beginning showing the damage through to the clean up and progress toward completion. Click on any of the thumbnail pictures to view a larger version with a description.
The Damage from the Tornadoes
Clean Up
WAC would like to thank the Catoosa County Board of Education and specifically Mr. Damon Raines, Ringgold High School's Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Robert Akins, and Head Baseball Coach Brent Tucker and all of their coaches for their confidence in Warner's Athletic Construction for allowing us to help heal a community and provide the best athletic fields available.
Stay tuned for more updates. To see more of our work, take a look at our recent projects.