Hurricane damage reports

I was very sad to read this, from American Association of Museums, but it could have been a lot worse:

Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis's home (as of 9-2). The Clarion Ledger reported on 8-31 that Beauvoir, located in Biloxi, was 'virtually demolished.' George Malvaney reported that he visited Beauvoir on the evening of 8-31. He said the bottom floor of the house was gone, the upstairs badly damaged, but that many artifacts were intact. He said artifacts have been temporarily secured. On 9-1 Greg Biggs reported from Larry McCluney that approximately 65% of the main house still stands, although the porch, windows, doors, columns, & front porch are gone. The first floor of the library is gone, but Davis's papers had been moved upstairs and survived. The small home where Davis resided survived. Other buildings, such as the gift shop, are gone.

Louisiana State Museum (as of 9-2). Kacey Hill, Public Information Director, states that early reports indicate that the Louisiana State Museum's 9 historic French Quarter properties have sustained varying degrees of modest to severe damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Curatorial staff has conducted a preliminary survey of both facilities and collections for immediate stabilization purposes. Continuing assessment of conditions is underway, but it is too soon to fully realize the extent of the site repairs and collection treatment needed. Museum officials have received numerous calls from other institutions offering assistance, and look forward to accepting these generous offers in the weeks and months ahead.

New Orleans Museum of Art (as of 9-2). The Times-Picayune reports on 8-31 that the New Orleans Museum of Art survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath without significant damage. Six NOMA security & maintenance employees had remained on duty during the hurricane. FEMA wanted them to move to a safer location, but there was no way to secure the artwork inside so the staff continues to stay on site. Museum workers had taken down some pieces in the sculpture garden before the storm, but a towering modernist sculpture by Kenneth Snelson was reduced to a twisted mess in the lagoon. The Wall Street Journal reported on 9-2 that the climate-control system was operating at half-power on a backup generator. The museum may relocate some of its more fragile works, if generator fuel can't be obtained soon.

Last night we were finally able to make telephone contact with my in-laws. Everyone is alive and safe, however my wife's parent's house has been irreparably damaged and will have to be demolished and rebuilt.