BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — On the evening of Tuesday, August 13, heavy downpours caused major street flooding throughout Bismarck, damaging several ground-level businesses — including a beloved local theater in the heart of downtown.

Some neighborhoods, including downtown, received nearly three inches of rain in less than an hour that evening, which eventually created a deluge of water raging down East Main Street by Dakota Stage Playhouse. The overflow of water came over the sidewalk, running under the entrance doors of the theater. Rainwater also flooded the alleyway behind the playhouse, flowing down the stairs into the backstage area and down into the basement of the local theater.

Morgan Nelson, the executive director of Dakota Stage Ltd., said she was taking calls and preparing for upcoming events when she first saw water cascading down through the light fixtures in her basement office.

She then ran up to the first floor to get a bucket, and that’s when she first saw water coming over the curb of the sidewalk — splashing up and underneath their glass entrance doors.

With buckets in hand, she ran back down to her office to catch what falling water she could before running back upstairs to attempt to stop the water that was already coming into the entranceway.

“Obviously,” Nelson stated, “that didn’t work very well. Then, I tried to come down through the theater seating area, and saw a waterfall coming down our backstage stairs.”

Flood waters that came in from the back alley caused extensive damage to the walls and floors of the historic building, including the stage.

“We’re going to need to be replacing sheet rock and carpets,” Nelson explained. “We already tore up some carpets backstage from the alley water.”

In the days following the flood, volunteers helped staff to mop up and pump out all the standing water that they could and assess the damage.

“We’re looking for a water damage remediation company to come in, do a professional clean on the building, and just make sure there are no outstanding issues,” said the stage’s Board President Chris Roemmich.

He says they will have to have the damaged areas professionally cleaned and restored.

“We also had storage under the stage that was wet including equipment that is used in performances that will have to be replaced,” said Roemmich.

Roemmich adds that the community playhouse is looking at some very costly repairs, including resurfacing the theater’s stage.

Nelson says they estimate the cost to repair all the damage could be anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000. She expressed that she’s thankful for the support they have received from the community in both efforts to clean up the mess and raise money to replace what was lost.

“We have currently raised over $29,000,” expressed Nelson. “We can’t thank our community enough. We like to say we are here for our community, but really, they were here for us.”

Roemmich says the outpouring of support they have received shows how much the community supports the theater that brings live events and local talent to people who may not have access to it otherwise. He adds that the local support is greatly appreciated to save the playhouse that has become a central place in the community for over the past 40 years.

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