ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
It is painful for Vickie Stevenson to take a tour of the Project Renew Domestic Violence shelter in Conyers.
"I never would have dreamed we would ever be in this situation," said Stevenson, the executive director of Project Renewal. "It just makes you want to cry."
The problem started last Friday when extreme heat in the attic of the building set off the fire sprinklers.
"By the time I got here, the sprinklers were dumping water everywhere," said Stevenson.
The water was eventually shut off, the sprinkler system was repaired and a crew was brought in to dry out the building, but 48 hours later it happened again.
"When I came Sunday morning to let the workers check their equipment, the fire alarm was going off again and two other sprinklers had gone off," Stevenson said.
When it was all said and done, the building was flooded with 18,000 gallons of water that destroyed just about everything.
"Items that were donated by the United Way have been contaminated with everything that fell out of the attic and we would be afraid to give them to our families," Stevenson said.
Insurance will pay to rebuild, but Stevenson said the shelter's policy won't cover everyday items domestic violence victims need to survive.
"Towels, sheets, pillows, comforters, furniture, all the things a family needs to live in an apartment," said Stevenson.
If everything goes according to plan, Stevenson said the shelter hopes to reopen in four to six weeks.
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