FEMA Fact Sheet 

After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging 

Damaged Family Treasures 

When homes are flooded and lives upended, treasured possessions 

such as family heirlooms, photos, and other keepsakes become 

more cherished. These valued objects may be saved if untouched by 

sewage or chemicals. If cherished objects have been in contact with 

sewage or chemicals, see below under “Call in a Pro.” The Heritage 

Emergency National Task Force, a coalition of more than 60 national 

organizations and federal agencies co-sponsored by FEMA and the 

Smithsonian Institution, offers these basic salvage guidelines. 

After the Flood 

• Personal safety is always the highest priority when entering

buildings damaged by floodwater.

• Check for structural damage before re-entering your home to

avoid being trapped in a building collapse.

• Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your

system for safety.

• Turn off the gas. Be alert for gas leaks.

• Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are

covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails.

Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be

very slippery.

• Take photos of any floodwater in your home and of damaged

items for insurance purposes.

• Call your insurance agent to file a claim and report the

damage as soon as possible. Homeowners insurance usually

covers losses caused by wind, storms, or broken water

pipes, but not surface flooding.

• Rescue the most valuable items, but never attempt to

salvage belongings at the expense of your own safety.

• Wear long sleeves, sturdy shoes or waterproof boots, and

disposable vinyl or nitrile gloves during cleanup.

• Wash your hands often with soap and clean water or use a

hand-cleaning gel with alcohol in it.

• Mold can form within 48 hours; you will need to work fast.

The goal is to reduce the humidity and temperature around

your treasures as you proceed to clean and dry them. If you

do encounter extensive mold, use protective gear such as

gloves, goggles, and an N95 face mask, available at most

hardware stores.

Columbia, South Carolina, residents begin cleanup after 

historic flooding affected their state in October 2015. The 

orange tape around the pile lets debris removal workers 

know that the enclosed material should be removed. Photo 

by Bill Koplitz/FEMA 

Some Simple Cleaning Tips 

Air Dry. 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. 

Handle with Care. 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. 

Clean Gently. Gently loosen dirt and debris on fragile 

objects with soft brushes and cloths. Avoid rubbing, 

which can grind in dirt. 

Salvage Photos. Clean photographs by rinsing them 

carefully in clean water. Air-dry photos on a plastic 

screen or paper towel, or by hanging them in the 

corner with plastic clothespins. Don’t let the image 

come into contact with other surfaces as it dries. 

Prioritize. You may not be able to save everything, so 

focus on what’s most important to you, whether for 

historic, monetary, or sentimental reasons. 

Can’t Do It All? 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. 

For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures 

or email fema-hentf@fema.dhs.gov 
 

 

 

 

Call in a Pro 

If a precious item is badly damaged, a conservator may 

be able to help. Be sure to collect broken pieces. Set 

your treasure aside in a well-ventilated room until you 

find professional help. If a precious item has been 

exposed to contaminated water, seek a conservator’s 

advice on salvaging it; your health and safety, and that 

of your loved ones, is of utmost importance. You can 

find a professional conservator through the American 

Institute for Conservation (AIC) by going to 

culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/find-aconservator. Also, you could contact the 

conservation/preservation department of a major 

museum, library, or archives for advice. 

Advice by Phone 

Several organizations offer free advice following an 

emergency or disaster: 

• The National Heritage Responders, administered by

the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are

a volunteer cadre of preservation and conservation

experts trained in collections salvage. Individuals who

want to save damaged personal items can email

NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org. Cultural

institutions can call the NHR emergency help line.

• The Preservation Directorate of the Library of

Congress provides a list of emergency web pages of

institutions that can assist individuals and institutions 

with damaged art and artifacts at

loc.gov/preservation/emergprep/emerother. Some of 

the institutions listed offer 24/7 emergency help lines.

Additional Resources 

Item-specific Salvage Steps 

• A 10-minute video, “Water Segment from the Field

Guide to Emergency Response” from the Foundation for

Advancement in Conservation, shows how to rescue

soaked photographs, books, documents, and other

valued items.

• A 10-minute video, “Mold-Damaged Artwork: DIY

Salvage Techniques for Studio Artists” from CERF+,

demonstrates simple triage and salvage procedures to

stop or prevent a mold outbreak on paper, canvas,

textiles, and wood.

• Salvage Procedures for Wet Items. Minnesota Historical

Society. Covers archaeological artifacts, photographs

and transparencies, scrapbooks, textiles, wood, and

more.

• Disaster Recovery for Films in Flooded Areas. AMIA

Hurricane Relief: What to Do About Your Home Movie

Damage. Association of Moving Image Archivists.

Practical and useful information on recovering film after

a flood.

• Studio Protector’s Online Guide for artists from CERF+

addresses health and safety, salvage, cleanup, and

obtaining disaster relief.

Salvage a Historic Property 

• Resilient Heritage: Protecting Your Historic Home from

Natural Disasters. National Center for Preservation

Technology and Training.

• Disaster Preparation and Response for Homeowners.

National Trust for Historic Preservation.

• Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings.

National Trust for Historic Preservation.

General Guidance 

• Flood Recovery Booklet. Iowa Conservation and

Preservation Consortium.

• Repairing Your Flooded Home. American Red Cross and

FEMA. 

• DisasterAssistance.gov. Access to disaster help and

resources from FEMA and other federal agencies.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a

number of helpful resources, including After a Hurricane;

Evacuee Education Materials: Free Resources; Floods; and

Recovering from Disaster. 

• FloodSmart.gov is the official site of the National Flood

Insurance Program. Resources include such topics as:

Flood Risks and Costs; What’s Covered; and Before and

After a Flood. Explore the site before the next flood. Tollfree calls are accepted at 888-379-9531.

FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution 

co-sponsor the Heritage Emergency 

National Task Force, a partnership of 

more than 60 national service 

organizations and federal agencies 

created to protect cultural heritage from 

the damaging effects of natural 

disasters and other emergencies. 

For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures 

or email fema-hentf@fema.dhs.gov