Flood and Water Damage
The Alliance has compiled this set of flood and water damage resources from throughout the nonprofit and museum sector.
After the Flood: Emergency Stabilization and Conservation Measures
Conservation OnLine (CoOL) provides After the Flood: Emergency Stabilization and Conservation Measures is a technical leaflet written by the Preservation Assistance Division of the National Park Service. It notes that historic structures are often needlessly lost and damaged through hasty clean-up procedures. The leaflet suggests planning methods to prevent additional damage and maintain historical integrity.
Emergency Drying Procedures for Water Damaged Collections
The Library of Congress offers Emergency Drying Procedures for Water Damaged Collections. It provides a quick reference of immediate steps to be taken for books, framed items, paper documents, and photographs.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides a series of flood cleanup resources. The resource examines potential safety hazards, effective clean-up, and ways to protect individuals from flood-related harm.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), flood hazard mapping, and protecting utilities from flood damage.
Getting your Feet Wet: Recovering Water-Damaged Collections
This resource from the Library of Congress covers planning and preparedness, and response and recovery of all types of water-damaged collections.
Emergency Salvage of Wet Books and Records
The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) offers a technical leaflet that addresses emergency salvage of wet books and records.
Outline for a Flood Preparedness Exercise
Conservation OnLine (CoOL) provides Outline for a Flood Preparedness Exercise was developed for staff training at Stanford University Libraries. It lists action steps for books, flat paper, non-print materials, and electronic storage media. It discusses recovery for minor and major emergencies.
Protect Your Property or Business from Flooding
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) How To Series discusses waterproofing exterior walls, protecting electrical and HVAC systems, and installing sewer backflow valves. Each includes tips, estimated costs, and additional resources.
The Western Association for Art Conservation (WAAC) provides Salvage at a Glance. The quickly readable chart outlines priorities, handling precautions, packing methods, and drying methods for archival materials.
Salvage Operations for Water Damaged Archival Collections
The Western Association for Art Conservation provides the article Salvage Operations for Water Damaged Archival Collections, which discusses recovery methods and cites sources.
Salvage Procedures for Wet Items
The Minnesota Historical Society shares quick reference sheets with recovery procedures for wet items. Procedures are provided for 21 types of materials, including leather, textiles, paintings, scrapbooks, and archeological artifacts.