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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.

It’s interesting that amid all of the chatter about the world ending in 2012, the rate of natural disasters on our planet has noticeably increased. According to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, there were 385 such disasters from 2000-2009 – a 67 percent increase over the previous decade, and a 233 percent increase over the 1980s.

The best vaccine against damaged documents and photos is to scan and back them up digitally, before disaster strikes. That way, there’s no need to worry about a storm or flood destroying irreplaceable images or information.

When it comes to deciding how to dry wet documents, vacuum freeze drying is the best recognized method in the restoration industry. A vacuum freeze drying chamber blast freezes wet documents to a temperature of 0 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit, then uses precise temperature and pressure control to vaporize the ice, bypassing the melting stage. A high-tech sensor monitors the rate of weight reduction within the chamber to signal when the drying process is complete and prevent secondary damage from over-drying.

For libraries, museums and other organizations that house irreplaceable books, a flood or other disaster can be devastating. If not cared for properly, water damaged books will warp, stain and grow mold. Fortunately, with the help of an expert in disaster recovery, documents and books can be dried and restored to usable condition – provided you take the right steps.