As the waters receded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following flooding earlier this month, it became apparent the collection of the National Czech and Slovak Museum was going to be severely damaged, if not ruined.

Two weeks after the devastation, volunteers are now combing through sodden artifacts evaluating what can be done to save the museum’s contents.

The museum’s 400-pound chandelier made of Bohemian crystals came through unscathed, but most of the other objects were not as fortunate, museum curator Stephanie Kohn told Michele Norris during an interview on NPR.

The local SPJST museum has offered to help the museum in Cedar Rapids in any way it can, said Sandi Wicker, executive director of the Czech Heritage Museum and Library in Temple.

“We’ve sent them a letter offering them assistance,” she said. “I’d love to go up there and help with the clean-up, but I’m not sure that’s what they need right now.”

The many textiles at the Cedar Rapids museum have been damaged and volunteers of the Chicago Conservation Center are cleaning and stabilizing the items that will eventually be sent to the Illinois center to be evaluated and conserved, Kohn said.

“The museum had many beautiful items decorated with embroidery and beads that have been damaged,” she said.

While the museum took a direct hit, the flood didn’t knock them out, Kohn told NPR.

Kohn said that it’s been estimated that 20 percent of the population in the Cedar Rapids area is made up of people of Czech and Slovakian descent.

There are plenty of communities in Bell County rich in Czech heritage. Red Ranger, Ratibor, Cyclone, Ocker, Seaton and Zabcikville were founded or populated by Czech immigrants. Temple is the location of the SPJST (Slavonic Benevolent Order of the State of Texas) home office.

Brian Vanicek, SPJST president, was in Cedar Rapids in 2005 and visited the Czech Village, the area where the museum is located.

“I visited a Czech restaurant and bakery there and I’m sure those businesses are soaked,” Vanicek said. “It’s so sad.”

Vanicek said the SPJST community shares a common kinship with the people in Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village and he expects the flood will be a topic of discussion when the SPJST Supreme Lodge meets in July.

The National Czech and Slovak Museum Web site states the museum will rebuild and will be better than ever.

According to the Web site, “Czechs and Slovaks are strong, having survived many trials in their history and we are counting on their resilience.”