High priority should be given to salvaging the catalog and other records of the collection. Salvage operations should avoid any action that might remove or deface identifying marks and labels. See the supply list below. Workers will need to have dust masks and rubber gloves. As the materials dry toxins can become airborne- if there was fecal material involved in the flood this can cause serious health risks.
Clean water is very important for washing the books and for the workers to keep themselves clean.
Arrange for offsite processing center if possible. Organize people to help with the work. Document the condition of the materials and where they are being moved to. Prolonged immersion will NOT dissolve the paper in most situations. Immersed bindings may also be adversely affected, but at least while things are under water, they will not begin to grow mold.