Wednesday, September 10, 2008

When Disaster Strikes: Resources







Architectural records damaged in New Orleans during Hurricane Gustav.
09.2008 by K. Rylance

The Southeastern Architectural Archive received many calls after Hurricane Katrina and more recently after Hurricane Gustav from architects and engineers whose office records were damaged by wind and/or water. For those seeking resources and supplies, the following information may be beneficial:

For Appraisals: The American Society of Appraisers maintains a directory of certified appraisers. Why might one desire a professional appraisal? Many insurance companies require appraisal by a certified specialist. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also requires appraisals by qualified appraisers for tax reporting purposes.


For Mold Remediation: Document Reprocessors, Munters and Belfor are companies that provide disaster mitigation services. Tulane University Libraries hired Belfor to vacuum freeze-dry, gamma-irradiate, and process Hurricane Katrina flood-damaged books and documents.

For Conservation: The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) has an emergency response team and maintains an online guide to finding a conservator.

On 29 August 2008, the Library of Congress announced its new "Learning from Katrina" webpage that features seven interviews with conservators who lent their assistance in 2005. The site includes additional resources and tips related to hurricane response and recovery. Heritage Emergency National Task Force also maintains a website for current disaster information related to 2008 hurricanes and tropical storms. One feature is Heritage Preservation's ten-minute film "Coping with Water Damage."

Carol Turchan's 1988 article "The Chicago Historical Society Flood: Recovery Analysis Two Years Later" provides experience-based insights for coping with sodden architectural drawings.

For Archival Materials
: University Products, Talas, Gaylord, and Hollinger Metal Edge all sell archival storage and conservation products.

For Archival Flat File Cabinets:

Mayline Group
619 N. Commerce
P.O.Box 728
Sheboygan, WI 53082-0728
Telephone: (920) 457-5537
Fax: (920) 457-7388

Ulrich Planfiles
2120 Fourth Avenue
Lakewood, NY 14750
Telephone: (800) 346-2875
Fax: (716) 763-1818
Bradford Systems
Corporate Office
8700 Waukegan Rd., Suite 110
Morton Grove, IL 60053-210
Telephone: (847) 965-5070
Fax: (847) 965-5247
Safco Products, Inc.
9300 W. Research Center Rd
New Hope, MN 55428
Telephone: (800) 328-3020

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