I have set up the following World Wide Web site to provide extensive
information relating to disaster mitigation of flood and storm damage to
older and historic buildings.You may want to provide a link to this site.
Point your internet browser to:

http://members.aol.com/johnleeke/private/pages/hhw-home.htm

Feel free to send us questions on this topic and we will do our best to
respond. Include the code "Flood:" at the beginning of your subject header
for priority attention.

Could you pass the following tips along to you friends or colleagues who
may be dealing with the after effects of the storm?

1. Be sure to be present and to control emergency response cleanup crews
who may not be able to recognize and save historic building materials and
collections. While well meaning, these crews often cause more damage than
is necessary. Often historic wood floors, plaster, and woodwork can be
saved by simply leaving it to dry out in place.

2. Begin drying out the building by natural ventilation as soon as
possible, but do not dry out the building too fast with heat or industrial
dehumidifiers. Use fans to increase air movement. Monitor the moisture
content of building materials with moisture meters as the building dries
out. Drying usually takes at least a few to several months. Slow drying
means less damage to historic building materials.

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant
26 Higgins St., Portland, ME 04103, USA
207 773-2306
Old-House Journal, Contributing Editor
AOL, HouseNet, Historic HomeWorks, Pundit, [log in to unmask]

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant
26 Higgins St., Portland, ME 04103, USA
207 773-2306
Old-House Journal, Contributing Editor
Practical Restoration Reports, Publisher
HouseNet: http://www.housenet.com
AOL: HouseNet, Historic HomeWorks, Pundit, [log in to unmask]
CompuServe: Architecture, Historic Resourses, SYSOP,
[log in to unmask]
Historic HomeWorks:
http://members.aol.com/johnleeke/private/pages/hhw-home.htm