Hurricane Katrina Updates: "September 9, via e-mail from Ann Wakefield, Archivist, Notarial Archives: The Notarial Archives is housed in two facilities, both right next to the Superdome. We have been working desperately since Hurricane Katrina struck to rescue our documents. On Tuesday of this week, two staff members and a representative of Munters, a recovery contractor, were finally able to assess the damage and condition of the documents.
The 20th and 21st century records in our main office, located in the courthouse basement, experienced some flooding damage. Remarkably, the flood level in the basement reached only a couple of feet, much less than we expected to find. However, records on the bottom shelves took on water. In consultation with Munters personnel, we decided to pump out the basement and remove all materials. The records will be shipped out of New Orleans, stored, and treated. My administration intends to locate new, above-ground storage for these records.
Eighteenth, 19th, and early 20th century records are housed in the Notarial Archives Research Center, across the street from the courthouse, on the third floor of what's called 'the old Amoco building.' Pictures of the damage to this facility are available at the following web site: www.ssacares.org. Click on the 'photos' link. On Tuesday, September 6, when the assessment was made, it was determined that the records had an acceptable level of moisture. This was great news to us. It was decided to stabilize the windows and pump in air conditioning to prevent further humidification. Unfortunately, the (privately owned) building's management is resisting this solution. They refuse to allow access to the building for air conditioning and are trying to force us to remove the materials, which in our view would be damaging in and of itself, not to mention extreme"
