diff --git a/ascii/.emptydir b/ascii/.emptydir
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2b3c5c7b610883207b5d2770e01e6e20d4b81702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ascii/.emptydir
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Do not delete this file.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/netcdf/.emptydir b/netcdf/.emptydir
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2b3c5c7b610883207b5d2770e01e6e20d4b81702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/netcdf/.emptydir
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Do not delete this file.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/odv/.emptydir b/odv/.emptydir
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2b3c5c7b610883207b5d2770e01e6e20d4b81702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/odv/.emptydir
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Do not delete this file.
\ No newline at end of file