I don't want to sound like a complete jerk, but...
There is almost certainly a sign posted at the entrance of the lot that states that the school takes no responsibility for anything in the lot. It probably says it again on all the parking permits. Which is irritating, because if folks just assumed that the school wasn't responsible for their stuff the school could use all the money its spends on signs for education.
It's not the school's fault your daughter left her valuables in the car. Regardless of any flooding, that's never a good idea. Only bad things can happen. I've attended a half a dozen different colleges over the years, from JC's all the way up to UCLA, and I wouldn't have left anything I didn't want stolen in my car in any of those parking lots.
If the entire lot flooded deep enough for the inside of the car and all of those items to be ruined, it probably wasn't just a blocked drain issue. And, having seen those storms on the news, I wouldn't have sent anyone out to clear drains. It's just stuff, and not worth risking anyone's life. Also, that may have been why the school didn't tell anyone the lot was flooding, even if they DID know it was happening. What happens if they announce the lot is flooding? Dozens of students race out into the middle of a nasty storm, to a flooding lot, to move their cars. Yeah, it sucks to lose material things, but that's why there's insurance. Some kid goes out to move his/her car and drowns, gets hit by a tree, whatever, and suddenly its a much bigger deal. Be thankful your daughter is safe, more than a few people died in those same exact storms.
And definitely check your homeowner's policy, or your daughter's renter's policy if she has one. They usually will cover items like that, although flooding is a whole special clause in a lot of policies.
Truly sorry to hear about your troubles, hopefully you can find a way to get that stuff replaced. But, at the end of it, it is just stuff, and it could have been a lot worse.
