Superstorm Sandy revealed a silver lining in the political and financial fighting that delayed the opening, scheduled for two months ago, of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, The New York Times writes. Only very large artifacts were in place in the museum’s subterranean main hall last week when it was inundated by floodwaters that breached the former World Trade Center’s concrete-lined foundation and reached up to seven feet.

Had the museum been open, the chamber would have been full of display cases and vitrines with photographs, letters, clothing, and other irreplaceable items donated by the families of Sept. 11 victims. Museum President Joseph C. Daniels said the flooding was “definitely a glass half full” in that it showed officials the need to build in stronger safeguards.