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Hurricane Hanna floods the first floor of the Art Museum of South Texas

Museum officials say the museum building was not structurally compromised.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — SUNDAY JULY,26:

The staff at the Art Museum of South Texas on the Bayfront is also assessing the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Hanna. Waves crashed against the side of the museum.

“When we were seeing the pictures of what was happening to the museum, it was heart wrenching, everyone there, staff board members, we love that place,” said Marketing Coordinator for the Museum, Kirby Tello.

The storm surge able to push water into the first floor of the building. Tello says staff was able to put up additional sandbags around the building to try and prevent any more water from going inside.
but the damage was already done.

“On that floor is our operation station, classrooms, workshops for children, normally our summer camp, our theater and digital lab down there as well,” said Tello.

Tello says their focus now is to get as much water out of the building before they are able to assess the extent of the damage. Tello also says it appears the building itself was not structurally compromised.

“Our permanent collection is remains in our vault on the second floor, it really a secure space, so we can account for emergency situations like hurricanes or heavy rains or any other thing that might come our way. We're lucky in that our entire collection has not been damaged,” said Tello.

The staff says they have received outpouring of support from the community. At this moment they are not in need of any volunteers to help with the cleanup process. The museum is planning to open back up with free admission to the public on Tuesday

SATURDAY, JULY 25: 

Hurricane Hanna made landfall on Padre Island, TX, as a Category 1 Hurricane with 90 mph winds at 5:02 p.m.

Flood waters from Hurricane Hanna have begin to flood the first floor of the Art Museum of South Texas in downtown Corpus Christi.

For the latest updates on coronavirus in the Coastal Bend, click here.
For the latest updates on Tropical Storm Hanna, click here.

RELATED: The back end of Bob Hall Pier collapses as Hurricane Hanna approaches South Texas

RELATED: WATCH LIVE: Hurricane Hanna makes landfall on Padre Island, north of Port Mansfield.

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