Hurricane Rita tore through Southeast Texas last fall, threatening homes, roads, life as residents knew it, and the Stark Museum of Art's collection of American Western art and artifacts worth more than $200 million.

The collection consisted of paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe and Thomas Moran; sculptures by Frederic Remington and Allan Houser; ceramics and porcelain; and Native American baskets, clothing, rugs, and pottery. Rita caused a breach in the museum's steel-encased structure, causing water intrusion, and knocked out power to the area, eliminating the ability of museum personnel to control ambient conditions within the museum's two stories and 42,000 square feet.

Walter Riedel, Stark Foundation president and CEO, contacted Munters Moisture Control Service (MCS), a water damage restoration and temporary humidity control company. Transportation obstacles aside, MCS technicians began setting up equipment at the museum at 10 a.m. the day after Riedel called.

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