Free Demonstrations on Salvaging Disaster-Damaged Family Treasures Coming to a Disaster Recovery Center Near You

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa’s recent severe storms and flooding have likely wreaked havoc on more than your house. Some of your priceless photos, books and other family treasures or heirlooms may have been damaged too. 

It might be tempting to throw these mementos away. But hold on. You may be able to save them with advice from FEMA preservation professionals at various state/federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) starting July 24.   

The specialists will be on hand to demonstrate such tasks as cleaning photographs, preserving books, documents, electronic media and textiles. The demonstrations are free and follow this schedule:  

Survivors are asked not to bring damaged items to the DRCs to avoid a chance of causing more damage in transit. Instead, it is recommended that you digitally photograph the item(s) about which you would like to ask the specialists for advice. 

The demonstrations are sponsored by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a coalition of more than 60 national organizations and federal agencies co-sponsored by FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution.  HENTF works to protect cultural resources throughout the U.S. and its territories from the effects of disasters and emergencies. 

If you can’t make any of these events, here is an online FEMA resource for more information: www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures.

If you want to try preserving items on your own, here are some basic procedures to get you started:

• If your prized possessions have been in contact with sewage or any chemicals, you will need professional help. 
  • Call IMALERT Hotline (Iowa Museums, Archives and Libraries Emergency Response Team) at 319-384-3673. They accept calls from members of the public and can provide advice and suggest a conservator who can help you. 
  • Other sources of help include the Ford Conservation Center in Omaha, 402-595-1180, and the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis at 612-870-3120.
• Gentle air-drying indoors is best for all your treasured belongings. 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 out of damp albums; remove paintings and prints from frames, place paper towels between the pages of wet books.
• Gently loosen dirt and debris on fragile objects 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 mesh screen or paper towel, or by hanging them by the corner with plastic clothespins. Don’t let the image touch any other surfaces as it dries.
• You may not be able to save everything, so focus on what’s most important to you, whether for historic, monetary or sentimental reasons.

For more information, visit the Heritage Emergency National Task Force pages: 

FEMA:www.fema.gov Type HENTF in Search box.   

Smithsonian: https://culturalrescue.si.edu/who-we-are-hentf or email HENTF@si.edu.

Disaster Recovery Centers are physically accessible to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. They are equipped with assistive and adaptive technology such as amplified phones, caption phones, video phones, wheelchair ramps and other resources to help ensure all applicants can access resources.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448.