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Home / News - National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Ravaged by June Flooding
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library Ravaged by June Flooding It had been an unusually wet spring in Iowa. Planting was late, the ground was soggy, and the rivers were full. The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) building, constructed well above the recorded flood line, seemed secure…at least until Monday, June 9th, when Gail Naughton and her staff received the first warning that the waters of the Cedar River might breach its banks, but it was not predicted to exceed the 1993 flood line (when the water was not high enough to enter the building). The NCSML staff and volunteers sprang into action. They mounted a sand bagging project, hired a large truck and began loading it with the most precious museum artifacts and the archival collection from the library. These efforts continued on Tuesday, when the weather prediction issued earlier held. On Wednesday, June 11th, officials raised the potential height of any flooding. An earthen dike was constructed to protect the museum and the neighboring Czech Village. A second large truck was hired and filled; some of the collection was moved to the second floor; and the staff and volunteers raced against the clock to save as much of the collection as possible. Five inches of rain fell on Thursday causing the Cedar River waters to rise above all expectations. On Friday, June 13th, the river rose 12 feet over the 1993 high water mark, resulting in a violent surge of water crashing into the museum, breaking down doors, smashing windows, ripping out walls, and turning enormous exhibit cases, heavy furniture, and the grand piano upside down. The entire neighborhood was under water and ravaged by its force. It was not until Thursday, June 19th that the NCSML staff could enter the building. They surveyed the total devastation of the building and its contents. The inventory of the museum store lay in ruins; the inside high water mark reached eight feet. Staff, volunteers, and professional cleaning crews worked non-stop for four days to salvage museum artifacts and library contents, and clear out, clean and disinfect the building. Efforts are underway to repair damaged artifacts. The interior of the building is stripped to the studs and is drying out. The NCSML website (www.NCSML.org) has a gallery of pictures and updates on the flood and its aftermath. NCSML needs our help! Three major sources of NCSML income are gone: admissions, museum shop sales, and facilities rentals. There is a temporary office from which NCSML operations continue. Soon the staff and board will begin the huge task of assessing the extent of the damage and determining the funds needed (in the millions to be sure) to repair and rebuild, and to make critical decisions for the future of this important reservoir of Czech and Slovak heritage in the United States. Efforts are afoot in the Slovak and Czech Republics to provide assistance. There has been a global response to the disaster, with worldwide recognition of the importance of the museum. Now, we invite you, our readers, to help the museum. Please send your check, payable to FOS Museum Flood Relief Fund, to Friends of Slovakia Thank you! |