It takes at least a week before any reports surface of libraries damaged in a flood or other natural disaster. First, search and rescue takes precedence; second, residences and local businesses that are damaged get reported on first; third, it takes a while before emergency management authorities let anyone back into public or academic buildings to check for any water damage; and fourth, unless the damage is spectacular, library losses most often first appear toward the bottom of long media summaries of storm damage. Right after Katrina, I think the online coverage by "American Libraries" (thanks to personnel at the state libraries reporting back to us, and our own amplification of the role of libraries in refugee services) encouraged local reporters to focus on damage to public libraries in the New Orleans Public Library system at the time.
It takes at least a week before any reports surface of libraries damaged in a flood or other natural disaster. First, search and rescue takes precedence; second, residences and local businesses that are damaged get reported on first; third, it takes a while before emergency management authorities let anyone back into public or academic buildings to check for any water damage; and fourth, unless the damage is spectacular, library losses most often first appear toward the bottom of long media summaries of storm damage. Right after Katrina, I think the online coverage by "American Libraries" (thanks to personnel at the state libraries reporting back to us, and our own amplification of the role of libraries in refugee services) encouraged local reporters to focus on damage to public libraries in the New Orleans Public Library system at the time.