Hurricane Ike hit the shores of Texas with the highest wind speed ever experienced in many years. The last hurricane to create havoc over two hundred miles inland had been Alison in the early eighties. The high winds and sheets of blowing rain left a path of destruction as far north as Tyler, Texas. Galveston and the surrounding areas were almost a total loss. This was a force no one could have predicted. It wasn't until the storm came ashore, that the severe threat was realized.

Many families lost everything, some even lost loved ones. Most of these were caused by the rising flood waters and debris caught in its force. Roofs, windows, cars, signs, awnings, buildings, even some of the bridges received extensive damage.

It would be weeks before all the power and utilities would be restored in the hardest hit areas, allowing people access to what was left of their homes. People evacuated to higher ground, some to shelters, some to homes of friends and family. What remained of their homes and property, in many cases, would remain in the soaking water and climate conditions for days or even weeks. The document drying processes might be able to save some of their precious memories. There were new methods of document drying that offered more hope than ever before.

Wet document drying can be very delicate. The paper could crumble while in the saturated state. If your document drying restoration is be at a later date, you might try to soak up as much water as possible with towels, other paper that has no ink on it, or laying them in the open air.

Separate the layers as soon as the document drying allows separation without crumpling or tears. The most important thing is to do all you can to prevent molds, fungus, or water stains to set on the documents. If you are among those fortunate enough to have a power generator, freeze the stack of documents drying them into a solid instead of the liquid. The solid ice can be turned into a gas by the professional, and then the gas can be removed. Document drying can then be completed at a later date without risking further damage.

The items which can be restored through the document drying methods of today are numerous. They are photos, certificates, silk, leather, needle work, books, files, linen, microfiche, and x-rays, are among the list of items that can be saved through the documenting drying processes of this scientific age.

The precious treasures of your family's history are irreplaceable. You can't go back and relive your wedding. There is no way to revisit Jane's first birthday or the video of her first steps. Then there was grandma and grandpa's fiftieth wedding anniversary when five generations posed for keepsake. All were delicate memories that had collected through many generations. It is comforting to have the hope of salvaging some of these treasures for the generations to come.