Published: September 16, 2008 03:14 pm      

Shangri La reports minimal structural damage

ORANGE, Texas, September 16, 2008 - Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center survived Hurricane Ike with what appears to be minimal structural damage. Although its buildings remain intact, Shangri La did experience considerable flooding throughout the gardens, nature center, outpost and bayou areas, which resulted in water intrusion to various structures.



A full assessment has not yet been completed; it will nevertheless take a good deal of time and effort to restore Shangri La to its pre-hurricane condition, as a result of the damage to structures and landscape from the water and wind.



Shangri La staff members had fully implemented Shangri La's hurricane plan well in advance of the storm's landfall and had taken steps to protect the facility to the greatest extent possible. Essential employees of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, which owns and operates Shangri La, remained in the City of Orange where Shangri La is located at all times during the hurricane to monitor conditions.



Because of the extensive damage throughout the City of Orange and the lack of city services as a result of Hurricane Ike, all events that were previously slated to be held at Shangri La and sponsored by Shangri La will be canceled until further notice, including the Beat the Heat lecture series and the upcoming Fall Festival.



In addition, Shangri La will remain closed to the public until such time as city services resume, power is restored and recovery and restoration efforts are completed throughout Shangri La. This includes cancellation of all group tours and school field trips scheduled for the months of September and October, with scheduling for subsequent months to be determined as additional information becomes available.



Stark Foundation and Shangri La staff will work diligently toward the restoration and re-opening of Shangri La, and the staff will endeavor to return to normal operations as quickly as possible. Resumption of operations will depend entirely on the ultimate assessment of damages and subsequent recovery efforts, which remain to be determined.



For updates and further information, visit the Shangri La website at www.shangrilagardens.org.