Do you have a disaster plan? When was it last updated? In case of an emergency,how useful would it be? These are just a few questions that apply to the situation in which museums,libraries,and archives found themselves over the past few weeks in Iowa,Minnesota,and other places affected by flooding.
Some photos from the University of Iowa Special Collections taken as they moved materials to higher parts of their building (photos from UI News Services photostream):
Volunteers sandbagging outside:
Moving collections to higher ground:
University of Iowa Museum of Art:
From the University of Iowa Libraries website:
Friday,June 13. Libraries administrators were notified that the Main Library would be evacuated. More than 150 staff members in the Main Library packed their belongings and prepared to disperse to other libraries and locations across campus.
Relocation of Special Collections and other difficult to replace materials continued through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers throughout the day and evening. Handing books along a “book brigade” that snaked down hallways and up stairwells,volunteers were able to move tens of thousands of books from storage including thousands of theses of University masters and doctoral candidates. One volunteer estimated that they were “passing nearly 100 books a minute.”
Sandbaggers built a dike along the west side of the Main Library and around the loading dock entrance.
From the University of Iowa Museum of Art website:
The University of Iowa Museum of Art will be closed until further notice due to flooding.
Working nearly non-stop during the week of June 9,we were able to evacuate artworks totaling approximately 99 percent of the value of our collection. That figure represents nearly 80 percent of the 13,000 works of art in our collection –all evacuated in less than four days.
This is an incredible success story,and it wouldn’t have been possible without the proactive planning of the University and the massive outpouring of support from UIMA and Pentacrest Museums staff,student employees,and volunteers.
Water levels have receded and recovery of the building is currently underway. Exhibitions and events scheduled to be held in the Museum during Fall 2008 are under review and further information will be posted to this Web site and to the UIMA blog as it becomes available. Up-to-date flood news is available at the University of Iowa Flood Information web page.
If this kind of threat emerged for your collection/building,what kind of volunteer brigade could you amass without much notice? Do you have contracts with disaster recovery companies as well as local companies to provide assistance? It looks like the University of Iowa had enough time and volunteers to be able to save quite a lot of their collections. However,some other collections were not as lucky. From an art brief in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
For the past 7 days I’ve been in Cedar Rapids,Iowa working on a project and just happen to be here during the terrible recent floods. A brief report about the conditions here of the local museums:
I reported for Red Cross duty last week and have been translating for the Hispanic community and helping where I could. I have to go to another site for work now,so this will be my only report to you about conditions.
Internet service has had its ups and downs. About 4,000 homes damaged,and more rain to come.
The University of Iowa Art Museum took four feet of water. There is major damage on campus,but the art collection is mostly safe,I was told.
Cedar Rapids Art Museum was just above flood plane,the mostly safe Czech-Slovak Museum was 15 feet under water,with major damage,though the collections are mostly safe. Very sad. The African American Museum of Cedar Rapids had 15-18 feet of water and damage. The Seminole Valley Heritage Farm had major damage.
The Marion Historical Society is all safe
The Grant Wood Studio is completely safe.
The Granger House is all safe
The Kalona Heritage Village in Iowa City is safe.
Brucemore House is OK.
I’m sure your assistance will be needed,and I hope this brief report is of assistance to you. I’m exhausted and worn out by the recent events.
They will need your expert help. Pray for these people and these communities.
Tony Rajer,art conservator