Flooding can require quick evacuations, requiring little time to gather or secure prized possessions.
When homes are flooded, you risk losing treasured items such as family heirlooms, photos and other keepsakes. Once returning home, these items can be salvaged if untouched by sewage or chemicals.
While you may want to rescue the most valuable items, never attempt to salvage belongings at the expense of your own safety. Here are some helpful tips:
Prioritize. You may be unable to save everything, so focus on what’s most important to you, whether for historical, monetary or sentimental reasons.
Gentle air-drying is best for all your treasured belongings—indoors, if possible. Hair dryers, irons, ovens and prolonged exposure to sunlight will do irreversible damage. Increase indoor airflow with fans, open windows, air conditioners and dehumidifiers.
Use great caution in handling your heirlooms, which can be especially fragile when wet. Separate damp materials: remove the contents from drawers; take photographs from damp albums; remove paintings and prints from frames; place paper towels between the pages of wet books.
Loosen dirt and debris on fragile objects gently with soft brushes and cloths. Avoid rubbing, which can grind in the dirt.
Clean photographs by rinsing them carefully in clean water. Air-dry photos on a plastic screen or paper towel or by hanging them by the corner with plastic clothespins. Do not let the image come into contact with other surfaces as it dries.
Damp objects and items that cannot be dealt with immediately should be put in open, unsealed boxes or bags. Photos, papers, books and textiles should be frozen if you can’t get them dry within 48 hours.
If treasured items are badly damaged, a conservator may be able to help. Be sure to collect broken pieces. Set your valuables aside in a well-ventilated room until you find professional help. If a precious item has been exposed to contaminated water with chemicals or sewage, seek a conservator’s advice on salvaging it.
Source: Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration
