By Karen Schechner on Thursday, Sep 1, 2011- Bookselling this Week
Hurricane Irene left a mess that will take months to clean up. From North Carolina to Vermont, the storm destroyed businesses, washed out roads and bridges, and left some towns unreachable and 3.3 million people and businesses without power. There were at least 40 storm related deaths.
At bookstores on the East Coast, Irene’s effects varied. Most survived intact and reopened within a day, but several were severely damaged.
The hurricane’s path left some North Carolina stores in the Outer Banks destroyed or unreachable. “We’ve had four feet of water,” said Steve Brumfield, the owner of Manteo Booksellers in Manteo. “The store is pretty well shut down. We’re trying to survive and see if we can salvage enough to sell and get some bills paid. We probably can’t reopen in this spot again. It’s flooded too many times.”
Community response has been a bright spot for Brumfield. “Everyone’s been amazing,” he said. “People have called, stopped by, brought food and checks. Quite a few people have spent the whole day packing, slogging through a wet, muddy, gross-smelling place.”
Although Brumfield has found a temporary place to sell books, since the area is still without power, he said it would be rough going. Brumfield is asking booksellers who can offer advice about how to respond to severe flooding to contact him through ABA Member Relationship Manager Kaitlin Pitcher, who will provide them with Brumfield’s phone number.
At Duck’s Cottage in Duck, North Carolina, staff was still waiting for the restoration of power on Wednesday to start clean-up and some storm-related repairs. “In the grand scheme of things, this could have been much worse,” said Allen Lehew in an e-mail update. “But Irene left us a mess to clean up before we can get back to the business of serving our customers.”
Gee Gee Rosell, the owner of Buxton Village Books on nearby Hatteras Island, said that she has received reports that her bookstore was still standing, but since no one can currently travel to the island, she does not yet know the condition of the bookstore.
In Maryland, Annapolis Bookstore, which sells new, used, and rare books, is open, except for its flooded lower level. “Our electricity was out so our sump pumps weren't working,” said Mary Adams. “Unfortunately, we lost a significant number of books, some quite valuable.
Full report at Bookselling this Week.
At bookstores on the East Coast, Irene’s effects varied. Most survived intact and reopened within a day, but several were severely damaged.The hurricane’s path left some North Carolina stores in the Outer Banks destroyed or unreachable. “We’ve had four feet of water,” said Steve Brumfield, the owner of Manteo Booksellers in Manteo. “The store is pretty well shut down. We’re trying to survive and see if we can salvage enough to sell and get some bills paid. We probably can’t reopen in this spot again. It’s flooded too many times.”
Community response has been a bright spot for Brumfield. “Everyone’s been amazing,” he said. “People have called, stopped by, brought food and checks. Quite a few people have spent the whole day packing, slogging through a wet, muddy, gross-smelling place.”
Although Brumfield has found a temporary place to sell books, since the area is still without power, he said it would be rough going. Brumfield is asking booksellers who can offer advice about how to respond to severe flooding to contact him through ABA Member Relationship Manager Kaitlin Pitcher, who will provide them with Brumfield’s phone number.
At Duck’s Cottage in Duck, North Carolina, staff was still waiting for the restoration of power on Wednesday to start clean-up and some storm-related repairs. “In the grand scheme of things, this could have been much worse,” said Allen Lehew in an e-mail update. “But Irene left us a mess to clean up before we can get back to the business of serving our customers.”
Gee Gee Rosell, the owner of Buxton Village Books on nearby Hatteras Island, said that she has received reports that her bookstore was still standing, but since no one can currently travel to the island, she does not yet know the condition of the bookstore.
In Maryland, Annapolis Bookstore, which sells new, used, and rare books, is open, except for its flooded lower level. “Our electricity was out so our sump pumps weren't working,” said Mary Adams. “Unfortunately, we lost a significant number of books, some quite valuable.
Full report at Bookselling this Week.
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