Addressing Recent Flooding at the Museum

Unusually heavy rainfall during the month of May led to two significant rain events that caused flooding in the lower level of the museum’s main building, where administrative offices are located. The volume of water overwhelmed the drainage system, resulting in standing water in several interior areas.

Museum staff worked quickly with Staas Plumbing and Enviro Services to clean and drain the affected spaces. While those efforts were underway, another round of severe storms moved through the area on June 11 and 12, once again causing water to back up into the building.

Following the second incident, staff were able to fully clear the drain system and identify the primary outlet connecting to the city’s main line. With this issue now addressed and the blockage removed, the drainage system is functioning properly.

Although these flooding events were disruptive, the underlying issue has been resolved. With the outlet now clear, the museum does not anticipate additional backup problems related to future storms. Staff will continue to monitor the situation closely as part of ongoing building maintenance and renovation planning.