Is there a company who could donate freezer trucks for temporary use until
the museum has electricity, supplies, etc. again?  We have had a good deal
of success in local trucking firms donate use of their trucks, whether for
short term storage on-site when we run out of room for shipping crates or
for transporting specimens.  We have even had driver time donated to deliver
the trucks, set them up, and then pick up again.

Do any local grocery stores have freezer space theat could be temporarily
used?  This might not be doable because of potential contamination to the
food products stored inside but it never hurts to ask.  What about a grocery
sotre that has recently closed?  You might be able to get power donated from
the local power company to turn the freezers back on.  The property owner
would probably want the museum to sign a liability waiver to use the
building but we have found that owners of empty buildings in our town are
generous in letting us borrow space; a building that is occupied even
temporarily is less likely to suffer from vandalism than one that is
continuously empty.

Dr. Elizabeth A. Moore, Curator
Virginia Museum of Natural History
1001 Douglas Avenue
Martinsville, VA  24112
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Len Hambleton <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, September 27, 1999 11:29 AM
Subject: Flooded museums in North Carolina-Your advise appreciated


>Dear Listmembers,
>I am not subscribed presently to the list. As NC Museum of History's
Objects
>Conservator I have been asked to go on state television and radio  this
>Thursday evening and participate on a panel live to, offer assistance in
the
>form of information  to flood victims to help salvage objects with family
>reverence.
>I am at a loss to advise people who do not have access to what we take for
>granted: eletricity, freezers,clean water . Traditional conservation
methods
>may just not be what people can deal with right now.
>I have just received a call from a small museum which had waters rise to
>their ceilings in a one storey building. It had a large natural history
>collection. Animal hides will soften and putrify. Hides will be coated in a
>chemical soup of oil and effluent.
>Any practical suggestions would be appreciated. I know the fine community
on
>this list and all ideas would be gratefully appreciated.
>Sincerely
>Len Hambleton - Chief Conservator
>North Carolina Museum of History
>4650 Mail Service Center
>Raleigh NC. 27699-4650
>[log in to unmask]
>919-715-0200 xt244
>919-733-8655 FAX
>
>Opinions expressed in this message may not represent the policy of my
agency
>
>=========================================================
>Important Subscriber Information:
>
>The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ museum-l.html. You may obtain
detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line
e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message
should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
>If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
>[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
>Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).