Work is set to begin to repair the nearly $100,000 in damage caused by flooding at the Keystone Blind Association.

Jonathan Fister, executive director of KBA, said that during severe storms on Aug. 16 about two feet of water entered the building on Dayton Way in Sharon. On Thursday the agency settled with the insurance company for $99,500 to cover repairs to the building and equipment replacement, Fister said.

"Two feet of water can do an enormous amount of damage," he said.

In addition to damage to the building itself, all of the electrical equipment -- including the computer system -- and items like desks and chairs were ruined, Fister said. He said the vending portion of the building lost many products like potato chips and candy.

The force of the water running through the building was so powerful that it caved in the bottoms of the overhead doors, and all have to be repaired or replaced, Fister said.

Fister said the building was flooded two years ago, however, it was a minor flood. "That smaller one (flood) was really a blessing in disguise. What we found out from that experience was that we needed to have flood insurance," he said.

Prior to the first flood, Fister said the agency didn't have flood insurance but the board of directors "saw the wisdom" in getting the insurance.

A big concern right now is airing out the building to avoid mold growing from the water damage, Fister said. He said in a week or two they plan to replace the drywall.

No one was injured in the flood, Fister said. "I think that we've been fortunate in both instances ... they happened in the late afternoon or early evening when the building was vacant so we never had anybody at risk," he said.

There was some danger for the people who had to go into the building to shut off the power after the flood, he added.

Fister said agency officials are "very pleased" with the cleanup effort made by the staff. "Our people worked very hard," he said.

"Vending never lost a beat. They were still out running that day. They had to make their runs and they made their runs," Fister said. "We were walking through mud but they used everything that was available."

Fister also said he's very encouraged by the new access road being constructed between Dock Street and Dayton because part of the work entails a new drainage system and curbs in front of the blind association building. He said engineers are aware of the water problem and the fact that the building is at the bottom of a hill and are working to resolve the drainage problem.

Fister said it will probably take a couple of months to complete all of the repairs.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharonherald.com