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Devastating flooding is an act of nature that can’t be avoided and can result in losses that total millions of dollars. This is especially true for libraries and similar institutions, which often have much more to lose than other organizations in the event of a flood, as demonstrated by the damaged books and other losses incurred when the Louisville Free Public Library in Louisville, Ky., experienced the unimaginable in August 2009.

Hurricane season has officially begun, which means it’s time for companies in affected areas to revisit their disaster recovery plans. If a company’s office location makes it vulnerable to a possible storm surge, these plans will highlight in detail what actions the staff should take, in addition to covering the specifics of how sensitive and important documents will be protected and retrieved after the disaster – usually with the help of a document restoration firm.

In the event of a natural disaster such as a flood, our homes and businesses suddenly become threatened with total loss and devastation. Lives are turned upside down, and the key to getting back on your feet during the aftermath is the ability to salvage as much as possible. In such situations, it’s critical to preserve flood damaged documents that contain the details of your financial identity; not only will you need these for your own use, but you also don’t want them to be discovered by looters in the event of a disaster.

In the wake of a natural disaster, home or business owners may find themselves attempting to salvage water damaged documents with a hair dryer. This desperate act is not only dangerous, but it also isn’t usually successful. This begs the question, then, of how to dry wet documents.

Many entrepreneurs have spent years building up a small business, only to have it wiped out by a hurricane. It’s not just that these devastating forces of nature can inflict thousands of dollars in building and property damage; rather, the biggest toll is in the lost revenue caused by the interruption in business operations. The sheer amount of time it takes to recover and reopen for business – from cleaning up flood damaged documents to replacing damaged technology – can make or break a company.