Community rallies after ‘monsoon’ flood at local school wipes out $40,000 of esports team’s equipment

IDAHO FALLS — Two weeks after a torrent of flooding displaced students at Eagle Rock Junior High, local parents answered a call to assist affected teachers this weekend.

“It essentially turned my classroom into a monsoon, destroying just about everything,” said seventh-grade English teacher Gericke Kohn.

In addition to waterlogging 200 books in the classroom, the losses were particularly expensive as Kohn serves as the head coach of Eagle Rock’s esports team.

“We had 15 computers. We had two 70-inch TVs that had been donations,” Kohn said. “We had all of our Nintendo Switches. We had all of our controllers, our keyboards — everything that we had bought — just gone in a matter of minutes.”

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The damage was caused by a malfunctioning, new sprinkler system, installed in the summer of 2024, that inadvertently leaked “significantly” above Kohn’s classroom, said Idaho Falls School District 91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange.

She helped coordinate the district’s response at the site as water poured from the ceiling.

“I had my hood up, and I had my rain boots on,” she said, describing the torrent.

Kohn reports the water gushed for about two and a half hours before it was contained by the sprinkler system’s installation crew.

“It flooded something like five classrooms, most of them just on the floor. Mine was the only one with any significant damage,” he said.

The five classrooms were temporarily displaced, according to administrative officials.

“Only one wing of the three seventh grade wings was affected,” LaOrange said.

Mr. Kohn’s damaged classroom housed about $40K in esports equipment prior to the flood. | Courtesy Idaho Falls School District 91

Helping rebuild the esports team

Kohn has coached the middle school’s esports team — now entering its third season of competition — since it was founded in 2023, EastIdahoNews.com reported previously.

About 25 kids participate in esports, a competitive form of video gaming that can lead to scholarships, Kohn added.

While the damaged district equipment is inventoried and insured, in the meantime, the esports team could use a hand-up.

The team’s competitive season started on Monday.

“Our IT department got us some some cheap computers as a temporary replacement until the insurance money comes through,” Kohn said.

Any additional support or esports equipment from the community would be greatly appreciated.

For the esports team, community members interested in providing additional help can contact Kohn at [email protected].

Water floods into another classroom at Eagle Rock Middle School. | Courtesy Idaho Falls School District 91

Stepping up to the plate

Meanwhile, the Idaho Falls Education Association is raising support to assist with replacing teachers’ lost personal items.

A popular Facebook post from the teachers’ union requesting help was shared 74 times this weekend.

As soon as the teachers’ union posted the list, local parents and fellow educators rushed to help impacted teachers replace damaged personal items.

The list did not include esports items, as Kohn said he was initially skeptical the drive would be successful.

“(But) within an hour or two, I looked at it, and most of the items had already been purchased,” Idaho Falls Education Association Co-President Jerica Hardy said. “Currently, as it sits, the only thing that’s left on there are some gift cards.”

Parents and fellow educators purchased a small speaker system, mini-fridge, wireless charger, books, floor lamps, classroom supplies and LED light strips. They could also provide gift cards to the affected teachers.

A team effort

The teachers’ union also recognized classified staff who directly responded to the flooding.

“(It) happened in the middle of the night,” Hardy said. “And … it was cool that the custodians in the district stepped up overnight to help.”

Some staff came from other facilities to assist in responding to the late-night call.

“These custodians are heroes who made sure that the school was safe and clean for students, even though it wasn’t their own building, or they were not on shift,” the teachers’ union posted on Facebook.

School officials express their gratitude to the community for their help and support.

LaOrange recognized that many of the items lost were invaluable.

“We will be replacing, of course, district items that were lost and personal items that were lost as well,” she said. “… We recognize that (flooding)’s impactful for teachers, and we are grateful to everyone for how they came together.”

The Idaho Falls Education Association also thanked all the community members who stepped up to the plate to assist their local teachers.

“We just say ‘thank you,’ I think it’s really cool that people stepped up and really helped where gaps in funding are,” Hardy said. “… The gaps … are an inevitable part of education, and it’s really cool to see (parents) stand up when times get rough and show support.”

Two classrooms are still displaced following flooding two weeks ago at Eagle Rock Middle School. | Courtesy Idaho Falls School District 91