New York: Moment floodwater causes library walls to cave in

The Smithtown Library in Long Island, New York, suffered catastrophic flooding, after a historic storm dumped nearly 11 inches of rain on Suffolk County. The library’s lower level was inundated with floodwaters, which broke through walls and windows, destroying thousands of books, computers, and the facility’s Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana—housing invaluable historical documents, including papers signed by Thomas Jefferson. The scene in the aftermath was one of devastation, with books, mud, and debris floating in up to 10 feet of water. Efforts to recover the priceless artifacts are underway, with specialists from Detroit working to salvage what they can through freezing and restoration processes. #newyork #flood #library