Baltimore City
~~~~~ September 26, 2003 ~~~~~
Baltimore Museum of Industry: Further details are available on the damage sustained and recovery efforts. As a 501(c)(3), the museum is not eligible for FEMA grants but may apply for a low-interest loan from the federal Small Business Administration. Insurance companies (2) have been to the site for collections/facility and fine arts assessments. A clean-up team has been contracted to deal with sewage issues in the collections and education buildings' basements. Four teams have been established to respond to each major area of clean-up and recovery. Wet documents are already being treated by freeze dryer.
The steam tug Baltimore (MHT easement) is taking on water but the bilge pump is able to handle the water. The Museum plans to apply for an MHT emergency grant to place the vessel in dry dock for inspection and repairs.
The education building (1425 Key Highway; MHT easement) will need four feet of dry wall replacement in the basement, removal of all cabinets and carpet, replacement of the equipment for the computer education learning center (25 computer stations), and total replacement of cabinets in educational tool room. Photographs of the flood damage are available on line at www.thebmi.org. Portable exhibits stored in the education building basement will need to be replaced.
The collection storage facility suffered the worst damage. All items stored in this facility were inundated and contaminated. A triage process has been initiated. As items are removed from the storage area they are color coded: red, discard; yellow, try to save; green, critical to restore. Wayne Clark notes that paper records for the entire collection were on a higher floor and are safe, and that collections stored in three off-site facilities were not affected. Fortunately, BMI has executed a lease on new collections space (13,000 square feet) directly across the street.
Living Classrooms (National Historic Seaport of Maryland): Wayne Clark met on site with James Bond (President) and Bill Cunningham (Vice President, Development). The historic Sugar or Coffee House building was inundated to a depth of three feet, leaving diesel fuel staining on the brick walls. The pier was destroyed but is scheduled to be replaced as part of the City’s river project, which will go to bid this winter. Mr. Bond reports that all ships in the fleet survived the storm without damage due to excellent pre-storm staff work to secure them from harm's way. Eleven vehicles were inundated in the parking lot but these will be covered by insurance. No report of collections damage. Ground-breaking ceremonies will be held for the Frederick Douglass/Isaac Myer Maritime Museum on Tuesday, September 30 at 9:30 AM.
Robert Long House and Fells Point Visitor Center: Having already experienced a serious fire at the Robert Long House and flooding of the Maryland Academy of Sciences, Director Ellen Von Karagan took Isabel’s threat seriously. Two days of pre-storm preparation included successful sand-bagging at the newly dedicated Visitor Center, which had 18 inches of standing water at the front door. The new Fells Point Maritime Museum space leased to the Maryland Historical Society did not suffer any interior flooding as plastic sheeting and sand bags held despite 2 feet of water at the front door. As reported earlier, cellars did flood, including the cellar of the Robert Long House. Utilities located in the cellar have been condemned and will have to be replaced but exposed stone and brick walls have been cleaned. Water stopped 6 inches shy of the cellar ceiling in the Long House, sparing the electrical service. Five boxes of archeological artifacts from excavations in the basement of the Long House were underwater for 24 hours. They have been removed and air dried, with special attention to salvage as much of the provenience information as possible. Ellen Von Karagan has offered to donate collection to MHT and asked for assistance in treatment and repackaging of the collection. Artifacts will be transferred to the triage archeology lab at MHT for processing. Bill Lynch, excavator of the site, has offered to assist MHT and MAC Lab staff with artifact evaluation and identification. Once processed, the collection will be transferred to the MAC Lab at JPPM.
~~~~~ September 25, 2003 ~~~~~
 Baltimore Museum of Industry: Chuck Boyd reports collections storage area in basement was above storm surge but storm drain had backed up and inundated collections with six feet of water and sewage. Second storage facility sustained two feet of sewage back up. Both facilities experienced further sewage back-up and minor flooding Tuesday following heavy rain (up to 6” fell in Maryland Piedmont). Insurance agent and health officials are at site today (9/24). Print materials were not affected, only artifacts. Ground level of administration building sustained 2 feet of water. Computer classroom with 25 computer stations was ruined; tug boat dock destroyed including pilings. The outdoor pavilion structure was heavily damaged. Staff estimates museum will be closed to public for minimum of one month. Museum of Industry has suffered heaviest losses identified by statewide assessment of historic resources. Wayne Clark has scheduled assessment visit for 9/26.
B&0 Railroad Museum: Courtney Wilson reports no rain or wind damage to the museum. Remaining roof on the roundhouse was not affected. Remaining collections in round house were successfully secured from rain damage. Wilson provided advice to other museums on crisis management Tuesday via conference call arranged in advance of storm by Wayne Clark for MHT. B&0 staff is providing technical advice to Baltimore Museum of Industry during initial response period.
~~~~~ September 23, 2003 ~~~~~
 Flooding exceeded 7 feet and broke the previous record set by the 1933 hurricane. Non-historic commercial properties took the brunt of damage in the Inner Harbor. Historic resources in Canton and Federal Hill were largely spared. Fells Point was not spared, and water was approximately 4 feet deep by the Recreation Pier. Historic residential and commercial buildings were affected along Fell, Thames, and Broadway, among other streets.
The Baltimore Museum of Industry was badly hit, and is likely to be the single most significant crisis to result from the storm. While spared from direct effects of the storm surge, two buildings were inundated by water that backed up through the sewer system. The collections storage facility flooded to a depth of 6 feet, and the administration building received 2 feet of water. Also damaged were historic museum buildings, non-historic revenue-generating buildings, and 25 computer stations (destroyed) in the computer classroom. The steam tug Baltimore (National Register; MHT easement) is taking water and will require repairs.
Fells Point: The Preservation Society moved collections prior to the storm and reports that the cellars of the Robert Long House and 1732 Thames Street flooded, but water did not reach the first floor.
Fells Point: The Maryland Historical Society reports they were successful in sandbagging the Maritime Museum on Thames Street and the Civil War Museum, with no damage to collections or buildings.
The World Trade Center took 16 feet of water in the cellar, destroying all electrical and mechanical systems. The building has been shut down for a complete overhaul of these systems.
U.S.S. Constellation and Visitor Center: Ship and dock are in excellent condition. Collections and museum shop merchandise were moved prior to the storm and are safe. The Visitor Center sustained 1.5 feet of water on the main level but did not sustain damage and the electrical system is OK. Minor damage reported to the shipyard.
Living Classrooms: No damage to vessels or administrative building; minor damage to pier.
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