Hurricane Irene-related damage limits activities at Supreme Sports Club

Activities on the arena floor at the Supreme Sports Club, on Deepage Drive in Owen Brown, have been limited due to damage caused by Hurricane Irene, according to Columbia Association officials.

The storm caused a power outage, which erroneously activated a section of the sprinkler system, flooding the arena floor, said Kevin Simpson, the gym's general manager. Gym staff discovered the flooding Aug. 31 when power returned.

The water got underneath the floorboards and the floor became swollen, Simpson said. A section about 12 feet by 12 feet is being cut out and replaced. The track encircling the arena is concrete and was not damaged; .

In the meantime, basketball is limited to one full court and two half-courts, and volleyball is limited to one net, Simpson said Tuesday. The future availability of the arena and track might be affected by the repair work.

In addition, a party scheduled at the club for the Sept. 11 football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers has been canceled.

Repair work was expected to begin Wednesday, Sept. 7, or Thursday, Sept. 8, with the arena expected to reopen completely a week after work starts. That timeline is contingent on how much water is underneath the floor and how long the floor takes to dry, Simpson said.