When a natural disaster strikes or a home emergency occurs, many things will go through your mind. By preparing ahead of time, you can ensure that your precious memories and valuable collectibles can be rescued. The tips below can help you protect treasured objects in the case of an emergency:
- Store family heirlooms, collectibles and other treasured pieces in archival-quality enclosures and boxes. Archival materials are designed to help prolong the life of your items for centuries
- Consider using Gaylord Archival DuraShield boxes or plastic sheeting to help prevent damage from moisture and leaky pipes or roofs
- Avoid storing items in areas with extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations, like attics, basements & garages
- Keep everything in one area so it's easy to evacuate if circumstances allow you to do so safely
- When possible, keep collections elevated off the floor to help prevent damage from flooding
- Scan and digitize your family documents and photos; be sure a backup is stored elsewhere or in the cloud
If your family treasures are damaged in a disaster, you can use these resources from reputable institutions with simple techniques for salvaging items damaged by water or fire, linked below.
Resources for Flood Damage
- After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures from FEMA
- Emergency Salvage of Flood-Damaged Family Papers from the National Archives
- Video on Water Damage from AIC