1000 Friends of Iowa - Press Release from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

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Press Release from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs

Thursday, 19 June 2008

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has set up an email account and scheduled a series of dial-in conference calls for Iowans to report recent flood and tornado damage. Follow the "read more" link below for the complete press release which includes the email address and phone number for the upcoming conference calls.

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
600 E. Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2008

Contact: Jeff Morgan, 515-281-3858

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is urging Iowans to report recent flood, storm and tornado damage of cultural, historical and art properties and assets to a special email account and through a series of upcoming conference calls.

DCA is requesting reports about cultural, historical and art properties and assets that include – but are not limited to – art galleries, art museums, performance art centers, artist’s studios, historic buildings, cemeteries, archaeological sites, artifacts, museum collections and archives.

“We are receiving scattered reports already, but we are urging Iowans to contact us through the special email account and on the conference calls so we can develop a comprehensive report of the damage our cultural, historical and art properties and assets have suffered,” said Cyndi Pederson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. “This information will be critical in determining the financial assistance Iowans will need to recover and rebuild.”

Iowans can report damage to a special email account at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (please note the “.” between “Resources” and “Flooding”). In the subject line, please identify the community and the cultural resource impacted by the flooding. Replies will not be issued from this email account.

Iowans can also report damage during a series of conference calls at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19; 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 24; 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 26; 1:30 p.m. Iowans should call toll-free at 866-685-1580; the conference code is 5152816320#.

Iowans can also visit www.culturalaffairs.org for technical assistance, disaster response and financial resource information. The information is directed primarily to cultural, historical and art organizations and historic property owners, but can also be applied to most dwellings and collections. Examples of information include:

treating flood-damaged homes and properties

working with contractors and architects

salvaging water-damaged collections

links to nearly two dozen organizations that offer a wide variety of technical assistance

The Web site also offers directions for applying for emergency Historic Resource Development Program grants.

“Water and loss of humidity and temperature control can cause enormous damage to historical documents, artifacts, historic buildings, archaeological sites, cemeteries, government records and art collections,” Pederson said. “A single flood can erase substantial portions of a community’s unique recorded history, and water distorts paper and causes ink and other media to run or even disappear. Wet records, artifacts and art pieces can grow mold within 48 hours, so even a small water disaster requires a prompt response.”

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