[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Disaster planning - a close call



To the List:

I posted a request for wisdom last week concerning one aspect disaster
preparedness, something I've been working on as time allows. Last night we
had a very close call.

A line of severe thunderstorms came through northwest Ohio around 8:00 PM.
Local conditions in these storms vary significantly. The rest of the
general area had hail to baseball size and winds over 60 miles hour, but
the nearest village (about a mile away from our facility) was pummelled by
softball-sized hail and intense winds. Most exposed west-facing windows in
the village were broken, and aluminum siding on the west sides of buildings
was heavily dented and, in some cases, torn loose. (Oddly - or not so oddly
- a large stained glass window on the west wall of a church was spared!)
The village streets are green with foliage and debris blown from its trees.
An unconfirmed (because no one could see it in the dark) tornado also
reportedly came within a mile or so of here. Our managing director got
caught in the village in his pickup during the height of the storm, but
wasn't hurt, other than being scared spitless by the worst weather he's
seen in 50 years here.

Amazingly, we came out with no damage, other than assorted dents and dings
in the west and north walls of our metal building. The house that we use
for storage of the most valuable records was untouched.

After last night disaster planning and perparedness is not something to be
done when there's time. Next time we - or any other archive in similar
circumstances - might not be so lucky.

Best wishes (and with heartfelt gratitude),

Thomas Berry, Archivist
Historical Construction Equipment Association
16623 Liberty Hi Road
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
419-352-5616
tberry@wcnet.org

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>