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As the flood waters recede across the area, some residents are faced with an enormous task of cleaning up flood damaged items including important documents, photographs and books.

Experts with the National Archives offers the following advice.

The key to saving these documents is to move as quickly as possible to avoid potential mold growth.

Although flood damage to some items may be irreversible, following the steps below can give your collections a good chance of survival. Most small or medium-sized private home collections can be easily and cheaply treated by airdrying.

Mold growth:
Immediately remove wet items from flooded or damp places, as mould will begin to grow within 2 to 3 days. Mould spores flourish in warm, damp, stagnant conditions, and in the dark, so make sure the items are moved to a suitable environment before starting the drying process. First place blotting material, such as unprinted newsprint paper, paper towels, rags, etc., underneath the drying documents to absorb excess moisture. Circulating air will dry most materials and fans can safely be used as long as the airflow is directed away from the documents. See the table below for guidance on air-drying.

Paper distortion:
Paper-based collections will immediately begin to show signs of physical distortion, which makes the paper extremely fragile and easily torn or damaged. As no drying method can completely restore a collection, some cockling should be expected.
Wet book diagram.

Wet Books:

Do not open wet volumes or close those that have fallen open

Do not separate covers from text blocks

Handle one item at a time

Do not press water out of wet books

Unbound Documents:

Keep all documents in order

Do not blot surfaces of documents that have water-soluble inks

Photographic Material:

Do not allow wet photographic materials to dry in contact with one another

Do not touch the emulsion (print) side of photographic materials

Material How to air-dry
Saturated Books Stand on head on absorbent paper with covers open slightly; place absorbent paper between text block and covers; change absorbent paper as soon as it becomes wet and turn books alternately to rest on head and tail each time the
paper is changed.

Partially Wet Books Interleave absorbent paper every 20 pages with interleaving extending beyond the head (or tail) and text block; lay book flat; change interleaving when wet.

Damp Books Stand on tail fanned open in a current of air; when almost dry lay book flat and place absorbent paper between covers and text block; reshape if possible; place light weight (covered in clean paper to prevent marking) on top until completely dry.

Bound Coated Papers/ Glossy Magazines
Interleave between each page with waxed paper; damp books should be stood
on their heads and fanned open; fan through pages frequently to prevent sticking.

Unbound Coated Papers
Every sheet of coated paper should be separated from each other before drying;
spread documents on table or floor and change absorbent paper beneath as it
becomes wet.

Saturated Documents
Spread documents on table or floor and change absorbent paper beneath as it becomes wet.

Damp Documents
Flatten by placing between two sheets of absorbent paper and applying even pressure with weights until dry.

Photographic Prints Remove from frame or mat; place on absorbent paper with face up and change paper when wet; if print appears to be stuck to glass do not remove and dry intact with the glass side down.

Photographic Negatives (roll or strip)
Dry emulsion side up on absorbent paper (change when wet) or hang carefully on
a line with plastic clips.

Freezing
Freezing wet books will stabilize them until you have time to dry them.

Gently shape books to reduce any distortion. Remember, the configuration in which they are frozen is how they will remain when dry.

Wrap wet books in wax paper, freezer paper, paper towels, or unprinted newspaper to keep covers from sticking together. It is not necessary to cover more than the covers and spine with the wrapping.

Place in freezer.

Remove in small batches as time permits and follow guidelines for drying.