Winter Storm Update: Dallas HQ Sustains Damage During Historic Freeze

After a 100-year winter storm swept across Texas at the start of the week, crews went into overdrive to repair damage and prepare Exchange Headquarters for a return to limited occupancy.

Extreme temperatures and power outages caused waterlines and pipes to burst, flooding parts of the building. Frozen drain lines also thwarted some mechanisms in place to promote the safe evacuation of water.

Burst pipes led to flooding and water damage on the first two floors of Exchange Headquarters.

Several areas were hit with water damage, including the second-floor IT area in the North Building, MD Softlines, Hardlines, Consumables, the North Building first-floor IT Data Center, Command Center, Ecommerce, ECP Contact Centers, the mail room, the Facility Management Office, Braswell theater and Corporate U training rooms. The good news is our worldwide business remained operational.

Contractors made good progress with water extraction in the North Building, and Exchange FMO team members disconnected all computers and appliances in damaged areas and tagged backup battery packs and other computer support materials in flooded areas.

More progress is expected over the weekend when temperatures are forecast to rise into the upper 40s. Once enough of the damage has been mitigated and the standing water has been removed, associates will be allowed to return to HQ to collect valuables.

The Exchange Post will provide additional updates and a wrap-up of how the historic storm affected operations soon.

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