Press Release - SHSND Offers Assistance for Flood Damaged Items

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Claudia Berg
April 11, 2011
(701) 328-2666

BISMARCK – The flooding season brings with it a long list of problems and concerns, including how to protect or minimize water damage to historic structures, photographs, documents, books and other objects. Technical assistance and how best to deal with flood-damaged historic properties and other items is available from the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

Here are some tips that will help after flood damage has occurred:

• Wet wood will often assume its original shape and dimensions when allowed to dry naturally. Do not attempt to force wet wood back into place, or dry it out too rapidly. Ventilate the area. Fans will usually be adequate. Tongue and groove wood floors can be especially troublesome, and may require sanding or some replacements.
• Walls that have been saturated with water may require special ventilation, especially if they are insulated. Most types of wall and ceiling insulation should be replaced after having been saturated with water.

Here are some tips that will help minimize future flood damage to historic structures:

• Ensure that the surrounding ground is sloped away from the property. Soil may need to occasionally be regraded to ensure proper drainage.
• Ensure that gutters and downspouts are properly attached, kept clear of debris, and are able to carry water away from the building.
• Ensure that foundation cracks are repaired or sealed to prevent water penetration.
• Ensure proper maintenance of roofing and of flashing at chimneys of roof vents to minimize the potential of water damage from heavy rains.
• Plug basement floor drains if storm water and/or sewer backup is a possibility. However, if the property sits very low in relation to other properties in the area, this may force sewage to back up to fixtures on upper floors.
• Low spots with possible water entry points, such as basement windows, should be protected with sand bags if flood waters reach the property area.

Residents returning to their flooded homes in North Dakota should not assume that prized family photographs, documents, books and other paper products damaged by floodwaters are ruined. In many cases, these materials can be salvaged, according to State Archivist Ann Jenks with the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

“While some damage might be inevitable and there are no guarantees, there are many options available to salvage photographs, personal papers, books and other paper products affected by the flooding,” said Jenks. “Many of these items are truly irreplaceable and their loss would be tragic.”

The State Historical Society of North Dakota offers these tips for salvaging family photographs, documents, books and other paper products damaged by floodwaters:

• Handle wet papers carefully since they tear easily.
• If still wet, rinse photos and papers with clean water, but do not rub surfaces.
• Separate items and lay out or hang to air dry. Photographic prints should lay image side up. If space is limited, carefully hang documents from string such as fishing line with clothes pins. Position fans for maximum air circulation -- however, do not aim air flow directly at drying materials. Circulating air will effectively dry most items. Physical distortions may result, but the document’s image or information will be saved.
• Blotting material for air drying should be clean and absorbent. These include blotter paper, unprinted newsprint paper, paper towels, rags, and mattress pads. Screening material, such as window screens, well supported and stacked with space between them, provide an excellent drying surface.
• Freezing materials until you have time to deal with them will keep mold from developing. Some historic photograph formats, such as tin types and glass plate negatives, should not be frozen and should have priority in receiving immediate air drying.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota is available to provide technical assistance in recovery efforts. Anyone calling (701) 328-2666 for assistance will be connected to the appropriate State Historical Society employee. These are the email addresses for those employees and their areas of expertise:

Photographs, paper and books:
State Archivist Ann Jenks, ajenks@nd.gov
Deputy State Archivist Shane Molander, smolander@nd.gov

Historic structures:
Architectural Historian Lorna Meidinger, lbmeidinger@nd.gov

Objects and textiles:
Curator of Collections Jenny Yearous, jyearous@nd.gov

Funding:
For information about the agency’s Historic Preservation Emergency Fund, for financial support of buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, contact Grants and Contracts Officer Amy Munson at amunson@nd.gov. This funding source requires weeks for final approval.

Cultural Heritage Grant funds for the 2009-2011 biennium have been awarded. The next grant cycle will begin July 1, 2011.

For more information about other sources of flood-related assistance information, visit the State Historical Society of North Dakota’s website at www.history.nd.gov.

Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
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Hours:
Exhibit galleries and Museum Store: 8am - 5pm M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm.
State Archives: 8am - 4:30pm., M-F, except legal holidays, and 2nd Sat. of each month, 10am - 4:30 pm.
State Historical Society offices: 8am - 5pm M-F, except legal holidays.

Contact Us:
phone: (701) 328-2666
fax: (701) 328-3710
email: histsoc@nd.gov