Excellent news! I received a next day reply from "Sergy" who offered to restore my lost zoo buildings manually. I had already rebuilt my lost buildings (3rd time's a charm - hopefully!) with the exception of the cafe that is still under RE-construction. I don't know if he can/will complete that for me, but I am just excited that the offer to help came quickly and was a real solution!
I am still paranoid about clicking my zoo icon, afraid to see everything gone again, but cross your fingers that these buildings weather the imaginary tornado that keeps wiping them out!