Disaster Archive
Hurricanes 2005

Task Force Conference Call Highlights

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Dec. 15 |Dec. 1 | Nov. 10 | Oct. 27 | Oct. 13 |
Oct. 6 |Sept. 29 | Sept. 22 | Rita | Sept. 15
| Sept. 8 | Sept. 1| Calls in 2006

Highlights from the Conference Call on December 15, 2005
Recovery efforts continue along the Gulf Coast and southern Florida. Alan Aiches of FEMA reported that over 55 applicants in Louisiana have been declared eligible for assistance so far and that FEMA has visited nearly every site except those in extreme western Louisiana. National Park Service personnel mission-assigned to the area have made an extremely valuable contribution, he said. Because of the magnitude of the disaster and extent of the damage, it has taken a long time to figure out how to use some of the many offers of help that have come in. Some collections are still somewhat buried in mud, as at Jackson Barracks, and there is plenty more work to be done that requires extra hands.

One success so far is the evacuation of the collection at Fort Jackson, a National Historic Landmark built from 1822 to 1832 at the mouth of the Mississippi. Its collection of military artifacts has been extracted, cleaned, rebagged, and sent to temporary storage to await further treatment. The fort is at the southern end of Plaquemines Parish, which is next to St. Bernard Parish. The area suffered 85% complete damage.

Florida Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Barbara Mattick said the damage reports from Hurricane Wilma are still coming in. Fort Taylor suffered roof damage and has requested assistance from FEMA, and the State Historic Preservation Office is making a concerted effort to clear temporary housing sites in counties with damage, including Dade, Monroe, and Broward. The Hillsboro Inlet lighthouse needs repairs, and the city hall in Everglade City was damaged, among other historic properties.

In Texas, things are calming down, according to Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Terry Colley. A county by county report of structures, cemeteries, etc. that have been visited on assessment trips is being compiled, and right now providing technical assistance is the most important task. The Texas Association of Museums has been working with the SHPO’s office to help museums in the damaged areas.

There were no reports from Mississippi or Louisiana state representatives. Mr. Aiches said that right now the issues in New Orleans were debris removal, emergency measures, and demolition questions. Historic buildings with over 50 percent damage raise sticky issues, and a long negotiating process has begun. FEMA personnel are trying to look at every building they can and compare notes with others involved. Many questions remain about how New Orleans will be rebuilt, from the fate of neighborhoods to the state of the power grid. Mr. Aiches said that about 60 percent of the city is still without power, and that many people want to come back but can’t until there are jobs, power, emergency services, etc.

Federal agencies and other organizations continue to provide assistance. Heritage Preservation has made 7 Conservation Assessment Program grants to museums in affected areas, and the National Endowment for the Humanities is still making emergency grants. Steve Shulman of the American Association for State and Local History talked about a program to match institutions in damaged areas with mentor institutions of the same size. The American Library Association already has a program that matches damaged libraries with others outside the area and has so far matched 200 libraries.

The next conference call will be on January 5, 2006.

Highlights from the Conference Call on December 1, 2005
Although the 2005 hurricane season has officially ended, recovery from the series of major storms will take many months. Reports from Florida institutions are still coming in, particularly from southeast Florida, where damage from Hurricane Wilma was widespread. Many historic buildings have been affected, mostly by strong winds and water intrusion. Fred Gaske, the State Historic Preservation Officer, said that damage is extensive all over Florida and new reports arrive daily. His office is working with the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation to compile a list of damaged institutions for eventual posting on the Web.

The Texas Historical Commission sent a team to Mississippi and another to east Texas, primarily Beaumont, Orange, and Port Arthur. They have found mostly wind damage to buildings, although one museum in Orange suffered collections damage after its windows blew in. Terry Colley said the Commission’s focus is now shifting to improving response after the next disaster. Gina Minks of AMIGOS Library Services reported that it was still not possible to get into the Tyrell Historical Library for a collections assessment, but there is a lot of black mold. Library staff hopes to return soon and perhaps reopen the library in the spring.

In Mississippi, things are moving slowly in some respects but staying busy in others, according to Hank Holmes, Director of the Department of Archives and History (MDAH). FEMA has agreed to pay for freeze-drying stabilization of local historical society records, and a house has been rented for staff and visiting teams. The records from Pass Christian, Waveland, and Bay St. Louis are being moved off freezer trucks and will be freeze-dried and recovered. The recovered records will be stored at the state archives until new city halls are built. Mr. Holmes noted that both Congressman Michael Turner and U.S. Archivist Allen Weinstein had highlighted cultural heritage needs in recent tours of the Gulf Coast.  

Brian Robinson called in his report from Gulfport, MS, where he is with the second Association for Preservation Technology/Savannah College of Art and Design team. Team members are working in Ocean Springs, Biloxi, and other areas until December 7. Mr. Robinson reported that salvage and recovery efforts were going very well, and he complimented MDAH staff for their coordination of volunteer efforts. A report from the team will be posted at www.apti.org after their return.

Louisiana State Archivist Florent Hardy said his office is compiling a damage spreadsheet and collecting photos from affected areas, as well as helping the Notarial Archives, Supreme Court, criminal court, and coroner’s office in New Orleans with records recovery. He reported on his recent tour of New Orleans, where debris is still piled high in places, sometimes not far from areas that were almost entirely untouched. Dorothy White of the Louisiana State Librarian’s office reported that the New Orleans Public Library archives and records are being stored, but the main problem facing the library is cutbacks in staff due to the city budget crisis. Only 19 of 200 staff members have been retained, an insufficient number to deal with records when they are returned or open special collections to the public. She noted that 22 Louisiana libraries remain closed temporarily, 15 are closed indefinitely, and three are closed permanently.

Diane Losavio of the Louisiana Association of Museums said that the Historic New Orleans Collection still has some roof problems due to wind damage, but otherwise is in good condition. One of the major concerns for museums in the area is low attendance, which has led to budget problems and layoffs. The fate of collections when museums become financially unstable is a major concern. Louisiana has lost a third of its tax base, so the entire state will be affected, not just damaged areas.

Alan Aiches of FEMA reported from Baton Rouge that a big problem has been tracking down staff members of museums where no one has returned. He said that some evacuees have relocated so far away that they may not be aware of what is going on in Louisiana, and communicating with them is a problem. Both FEMA and the Louisiana Association of Museums are working to find representatives of abandoned museums so the assistance process can begin.

Nadina Gardner, program officer from the National Endowment for the Humanities, announced that NEH has now made $565,000 in hurricane-related awards. More information is available at www.neh.fed.us/news/archive/20051116.html, and the agency invites new applications.

Dianne van der Reyden, Director of the Library of Congress Preservation Directorate, reported on the Library’s salvage workshop on November 17-18. A series of one-day workshops will begin in January, and the Library hopes to be invited to hold sessions in hurricane-damaged areas. She also noted that the IFLA Preservation and Conservation North American Network will make emergencies a priority issue in the coming year.

Hilary Kaplan of the National Archives and Records Administration reported that NARA is helping New Orleans Parish salvage public records that have been retrieved and frozen. The records, many of which were moldy, are being freeze-dried until NARA staff can inspect them. They were so densely packed together that the mold was mostly on the edges, Ms. Kaplan said, and they should be recoverable.

Steve Shulman of the American Association for State and Local History said that assessments made by AASLH teams are being compiled and forwarded to FEMA. He added that some funding remains for small projects, such as the truck of conservation supplies that was sent from Little Rock to Jackson Barracks.

The next conference call will be on December 15, 2005.

Highlights from the Conference Call on November 10, 2005
Areas along the Gulf Coast are moving out of response and into the recovery phase, while Florida is assessing damage from Hurricane Wilma. The Task Force conference call on November 10 included reports from Alan Aiches of FEMA in Baton Rouge, as well as Florida State Historic Preservation Officer Fred Gaske and representatives of the State Library and Archives of Florida.

Along the Gulf Coast, FEMA is working with Request for Public Assistance applicants who suffered damage from Katrina and Rita. Previously unaccessible areas have received site visits, specifically Dillard University and City Park in New Orleans. Dillard University was underwater for a long time; the water damage is being cleaned up and the collections are mostly okay. Mr. Aiches reported that things are better than had been imagined. At City Park, there was extensive damage to foliage and some to structures. The Botanical Gardens suffered damage, and the archival collections need treatment.

Nicole Hobson from the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office reported that they are working with FEMA to prepare for a Section 106 review of St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, which suffered heavy damage. St. Bernard’s Parish has two historic districts. A historian has been sent to Cameron Parish to assess damage from Hurricane Rita. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has assigned a task force for historical preservation issues, and staff from the SHPO and FEMA will attend the meetings.

Gina Minks from AMIGOS gave a report on damage in Texas. Roof damage occurred at Lamar State College and the Public Library in Port Arthur; two libraries have been heavily damaged in Beaumont. Tyrell Historical Library has lost a 1903 stained glass window in addition to damage to collections. The Orange Public Library had its roof blown back and water intrusion; 40 books are moldy.

Lack of electricity and phone service in southern Florida has hampered damage assessment and communications. Mr. Gaske has received reports from hard-hit areas such as Moore Haven and Pahokee and is getting sketchy information from the east coast of Florida. Some historic structures in Miami are reported to have damage; the City of Miami Historic Preservation Officer is surveying the damage. The Broward County Preservation Office is compiling a report on damage in the county. In Key West, which had a 6 to 8 foot storm surge, up to 70 percent of homes may need new drywall, and several historic structures are seriously damaged. Mr. Gaske said this may be the most damaging storm to hit Key West since 1919.

In Broward, two judges’ chambers reported they are dealing with wet records, but none have been lost. The Department of Legal Affairs had major water damage and is drying and scanning or recreating files from other sources. Unrecoverable files are mostly from closed cases. In other places, archival collections have been moved because of damage to and/or lack of climate control in their facilities.

Gregor Trinkhaus-Randall of the Society of American Archivists announced the formation of a working group on documenting the recovery efforts. The group will begin by identifying contacts at institutions involved in response and recovery; please send information to gregor.trinkhaus-randall@state.ma.us or Tom Connors at tconnors@umd.edu.

The next conference call will be announced via e-mail.

Highlights from the Conference Call on October 27, 2005
Florida damage reports from Hurricane Wilma are beginning to come in, hampered by a lack of electricity in some areas. The Task Force conference call on October 27 included reports from Florida State Historic Preservation Officer, Fred Gaske, and representatives of the State Library and Archives of Florida.

Damage reports from southern Florida are still sketchy, Mr. Gaske said, but the worst damage seems to be in Collier County. Everglades City, just south of Naples, contains 32 historic structures, two of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Almost all are heavily damaged, including the 1923 City Hall, which had its roof torn off and its foundation weakened. In Clewiston, which was on the southeastern side of Wilma, 90 percent of buildings suffered significant structural damage, including 185 historic structures, seven of which are on the National Register.

In Key West, a storm surge of 6 to 8 feet contributed to flooding but wind damage was not catastrophic in most cases. Fort Zachary Taylor lost a roof from a barracks. There are no reports yet from Miami Beach, and Mr. Gaske said he thinks the news will get worse as more information becomes available.

The status of many libraries is not yet known, but one small library in the City Hall in Everglades City has been condemned. Monroe County suffered significant flooding but no major library damage. There are no reports yet on Miami-Dade County and most Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County libraries, though the Broward Central Library is reported to be all right. Some branches are open with phone access.

State Librarian Judith Ring noted that many of the libraries have been built since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 to strict hurricane construction regulations. Only one Florida library was lost in the 2004 hurricane season, and it was in a non-permanent structure. Many county libraries have become part of the local emergency management system in Florida. They are given priority in power and Internet restoration so they can provide public services.

Jim Berberich, Chief, Bureau of Archives and Records Management, reported that Isla Morada has extensive damage to public records and the City Hall. There are no other reports yet of damage to public records. He noted that a lot of local governments have emergency plans and took advantage of training, so that might be paying off. Disaster recovery resources can be found at http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/disasterrecovery/.

Elsewhere, the Texas Historical Commission is sending a team to Beaumont, Orange, and Port Arthur to assess damage. Some museums are heavily damaged, and assessments from Port Arthur are lacking.

Brian Robinson, representing the Association for Preservation Technology International, gave a report on his assessment team’s eight days in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He said the damage is “incomprehensible” and that many houses are still full of debris. Of the 88 properties the team surveyed, half had not yet been entered by their owners. In Hancock County, 40,000 tons of debris is being moved per day. Two more teams will be sent after Thanksgiving, coordinated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Reports from the assessment teams will be available at www.apti.org.

One concern in Mississippi is the number of properties eligible for the National Register but not on the list. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on gathering data about historic properties eligible for but not on the National Register.

Various Task Force members are sponsoring salvage and emergency preparedness workshops, including the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/preserv/) and the American Library Association (www.ala.org). The House Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census is holding a public hearing on historic preservation and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on November 1.

The next conference call will be announced via e-mail.

Highlights from the Conference Call on October 13, 2005
Response activities along the Gulf Coast appear to be transitioning from gathering information to planning and recovery, as well as seeking funding for recovery efforts and conservation treatment.

There were no new reports of damage. Regarding funding, AIC and other Task Force members have volunteers willing to provide assistance over the phone for institutions writing grant proposals or filling out FEMA forms. The National Endowment for the Humanities is sending someone to a meeting of the Mississippi Humanities Council on October 14 to help with applications for NEH grants.

The new deadline for Requests for Public Assistance related to Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana is now October 31; the importance of filing the RPA form with FEMA was emphasized. The Louisiana and Texas deadline for RPAs related to Hurricane Rita is 30 days from Sept. 24, when the disaster was declared. The Task Force will work to compile and distribute a guide to next steps for institutions that have already filed an RPA.

It was noted that people attending salvage workshops in the Gulf Coast area are interested in learning how to prepare for the next disaster.

The next conference call will be October 27 at 11 a.m.

Highlights from the Conference Call on October 6, 2005
Progress is being made in assessing and stabilizing cultural collections and historic structures, according to preservation professionals who have been in areas along the Gulf Coast recently.

FEMA reports that it has received 29 Requests for Public Assistance on behalf of 45 institutions in Louisiana. The Mississippi deadline has been extended to October 27 or November 4, depending on the county; the Louisiana deadline has not yet been extended but FEMA urges institutions to file their requests regardless. The Texas deadline is October 27. Several FEMA assessment teams have moved into position to address historic preservation issues in New Orleans and other southern parishes.

According to Larry Oaks, the Texas State Historic Preservation Officer, Beaumont lost 70%-80% of its trees, damaging many structures. They are working to gather more specific information on historic structures, as well as information on places that remain inaccessible, such as Port Arthur.

Teams One and Two from the American Association for State and Local History reported on their activities. Team One surveyed 13 institutions in Mississippi. Team Two just returned from Mississippi, where they compiled collections assessments for nine institutions and found that nine other collections no longer existed. The team called to check on 20 institutions in Alabama, only one of which had damage. Team Three is in southwest Louisiana assessing damage from Hurricane Rita. Reports from these and future teams will be made available as they are compiled.

The Association for Preservation Technology announced that it is sending a team to the Gulf Coast to work in coordination with the Mississippi State Historic Preservation Office. The team will assist building inspectors with surveys, continuing work begun by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. APT’s goal is to have a team in the field every month.

Robert Collins, the Louisiana Deputy SHPO, reported that four site assessments had been conducted in the past week, focusing on properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Wind and flood damage abounded, especially in St. Bernard and Tammany Parishes. More information on damaged cultural assets can be found at www.louisianahp.org/rescue.

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training is following up their Rapid Building and Site Assessment Form (link) by developing an in-depth assessment form.

The National Endowment for the Humanities announced that it has made its first emergency grant to a college library in Jackson, Mississippi. Conference call participants were urged to remember NEH as a source for funding collections recovery.

There was additional discussion about forming working groups for long-term documentation of the damages and response efforts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and for developing guidelines for handling contaminated collections. The Library of Congress has already begun archiving Web-based reactions to the hurricanes; conference call participants were asked their opinions as to what and how much should be saved.

Highlights from the Conference Call on September 29, 2005
FEMA application deadlines and procedures for damaged collections were among the topics discussed at the weekly conference call convened by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force. This week’s call was hosted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Alan Aiches, museum and library collections liaison for the FEMA Joint Field Office in Louisiana, said that the deadline for Requests for Public Assistance for damage from Hurricane Katrina is Friday, September 30. He advised that institutions go ahead and apply for aid even if a damage assessment has not been made; the RPA does not require a specific description of damages. So far FEMA has received 15 applications, some on behalf of more than one organization. Mr. Aiches encouraged everyone to pass the word to Gulf Coast institutions. A later deadline will be set for damages as a result of Hurricane Rita. RPAs must be filed at the FEMA office in the capital of the state where the institution is located. For more information, click here.

Mr. Aiches noted that he had met with the second assessment team from the Association for State and Local History, which is working in the area through October 2. On October 3 he will brief the third team. AASLH hopes to develop a scope of work from information gathered by the teams, which would be a basis for sending teams to stabilize collections.

In Alabama, most records that are accessible have been stabilized, but many structures along the coast of Mississippi are too unstable to enter. The Old Capitol lost its temporary roof during Hurricane Rita. The archives, furniture, and artifacts from Beauvoir have been recovered and moved to Jackson.

In Louisiana, serious problems remain, although some outlying parishes suffered little damage other than power outages. Those working now in New Orleans hope to reach out to other parishes soon. The St. Bernard Parish records were moldy and had to be frozen; originally the Blue Bell Creamery offered to help, but was overwhelmed. The records were sent to Fort Worth.

Texas collections are mostly in good shape, but there is no word yet from Orange or Port Arthur. Structures were affected in those areas and in Beaumont, where the main library flooded. Damage assessment teams are heading to east and southeast Texas. Most buildings in Jasper County are uninhabitable and local officials have not been reachable.

Task Force members reported on their efforts to date. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a team to Mississippi and will be dispatching others. They hope to establish coordinators in Gulfport and New Orleans. The National Park Service’s Museum Emergency Response Team, which assessed Park Service facilities in Mississippi and Louisiana, reached out to help NPS cooperative study units and the public. The team moved the Gulf Islands herbarium to Florida and retrieved specimens from the Gulf Coast Resource Laboratory. The Texas Historical Commission is sending a team of architects to Gulfport, Mississippi.

Callers also discussed long-term plans to archive records of response activities from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the development of a protocol for moving contaminated collections. Task Force working groups may be formed to address these issues.

Another call will be announced next week.

Highlights from the Conference Call on September 22, 2005
More news on the status of cultural collections in New Orleans and Mississippi emerged at the weekly conference call convened by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force. This week’s call was hosted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Alan Aiches, museum and library collections liaison for the FEMA Joint Field Office in Louisiana, said that FEMA teams had conducted two “windshield surveys” of important collections in New Orleans. With the State Historic Preservation Office, FEMA has also conducted site surveys of two parishes north of the city and met with representatives of the National Trust for Historic Preservation about coordinating structural assessment teams.

Mr. Aiches noted that information on FEMA assistance has been posted widely; through the states, FEMA will reimburse institutions for a number of costs related to stabilizing collections, including renting space and purchasing generators for air conditioning. FEMA has received 13 applications to date from cultural institutions.

More teams are organizing to help. The first team of conservators sponsored by the American Association for State and Local History will work on relocating the collections of the Mint Museum from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. The collections are threatened by an infestation of Formosa termites. Mr. Aiches encouraged all assistance teams to coordinate with FEMA and state officials and make a comprehensive action plan. Parts of New Orleans remain without water, electricity, phone service, or traffic signals; Hurricane Rita will bring more problems. He also strongly advised volunteers to get Hepatitis A and B and tetanus shots.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has published a report on its Web site about libraries damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, and AASLH is working on a database that will contain similar information on all cultural institutions. The National Park Service cultural resource teams have returned from sites along the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans, although NPS Incident Command personnel remain. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training is requesting information resources on mold.

IMLS also announced that the agency would expedite the grant review process and release awards early to successful museum applicants whose proposals meet the needs created by Hurricane Katrina. The two programs affected are Conservation Project Support and Museums for America, and their deadlines have been extended for museums in declared disaster areas. The Society of American Archivists also has funds available. Information on funding sources is available at www.heritagepreservation.org.

Texans Outline Hurricane Rita Preparations in Second Call
The same day, Heritage Preservation hosted a conference call at 2:00 pm EDT with colleagues from Texas. Its purpose was to learn about efforts to prepare for Rita, what might be needed, and how members of the Task Force might help.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is closing the museum at least through Sunday, September 25. After reviewing their current hurricane plan and setting priorities, museum staff had secured or moved outdoor sculptures and transferred art from particularly vulnerable galleries.

Several organizations are assisting in the Katrina recovery effort while making Rita preparations. The Texas Association of Museums is compiling a database of people and resources that are available to help in recovery. Institutions or individuals with resources to donate should contact TAM executive director Jack Nokes at jack@texasmuseums.org.

The staff of the Kilgarin Center and the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas, Austin, are fielding calls from the people affected by Katrina about saving personal treasures. UT staff will receive 15 days paid leave to help with recovery efforts. Amigos Library Services is also offering advice by telephone, in cooperation with other members of the Regional Alliance for Preservation.

Future conference calls on Hurricane Rita will be scheduled as appropriate.

Conference Call September 15, 2005
Concerns about health and safety in flood-damaged areas were among the issues raised at the weekly conference call convened by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of 39 federal agencies and national organizations.

Conference Call September 8, 2005
Lowering water levels, evacuating people, removing debris, clearing roads, and retrieving corpses are still the priorities for FEMA’s activities in Louisiana. But FEMA is also working closely with the State Historic Preservation Office to gather information about all the cultural institutions in the state, according to John Ketchum, FEMA’s Historic Preservation Officer, who briefed the Heritage Emergency National Task Force from Baton Rouge during its September 8 conference call.