Eye of the Storm

Eye of the Storm

By April Hann Lanford

It is hard to believe, but this year marks the 15th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, Katrina was the costliest natural disaster in our country’s history, causing more than $125 billion in damage, as well as one of the five deadliest. More than 1,800 people died in the hurricane and the subsequent floods.

Hurricane season is upon us once again and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that it will be an extremely active season.

Hurricanes and heavy storms can bring an onslaught of rain, which can result in flooding, loss of power and structural damage. Exposure to water, elevated levels of humidity and mold can be disastrous to collections of antiques, fine art and family heirlooms.

While it is understood that the best approach is to evacuate items to safety beforehand, you may be faced with limitations of time, packing materials, or a secured secondary space to relocate the items.

I have worked on the recovery of many storm-damaged collections over the past fifteen years. If you are unable to evacuate your collection, the following are recommendations to help protect your pieces, and assist with potential recovery in the future.

• Maintain an updated inventory of your collection and have a digital copy available to share.

• Identify three to five priority items.

• Relocate items to interior rooms, away from windows and exterior doors.

• Items should be elevated off the floor by three inches or higher. If you anticipate flooding, small items, side chairs etc., can be carefully placed on top of larger furniture items to help reduce localized damage to feet.

• Photograph or video the collection for future reference. While recording, walk through the house, open drawers, cabinets and closets to document their contents. This is not only helpful for antiques and fine art, but also will aid with other items in the event you have to make an insurance claim.

• Designate a trusted local contact to access and check on your home and collection in the event you are not able to.

Ideally, this last-minute preparation is enough to prevent damage from a pending storm since areas and buildings can sustain radically different damage within even a small neighborhood. Typically, when you think of storm damage, you think of water. However, storms can cause power outages, which leads to the loss of air conditioning, increased humidity and eventual mold. Time is of the essence and successful recovery can feel like a race against the clock.

Warped floorboard can be slippery and create a treacherous environment for removing fragile items after a storm.

There are many variables to consider when safeguarding collections and recovering items from storm damage. While a lot of collectors do not have access to offsite storage to safely evacuate their items when a storm threatens, these preventive steps can go a long way. Even a sixty-second video walkthrough of a collection can significantly help with recovery efforts in the future.

During the aftermath when local resources for response and recovery are inundated, taking the proactive measures listed above can significantly impact the successful recovery of your collection.

The most important lesson to remember is to never assume a piece is a loss. The field of conservation offers a combination of traditional techniques and modern technology, which can yield a lot of successful options for treatment of a piece.

Always remember, the sooner an item can be addressed, the better the results. In the end, the recovery after the storm will be a part of your story, as well as the piece’s. 

Our collection of educational articles provide an introduction to many topics about the preservation and conservation of fine art, antiques and fine furniture.

Topics are often written as a result of questions provided by our clients. 

Click Here to Review Helpful Information about Archival Storage, Guidance on Dusting and Cleaning of Specialty Glass and Acrylic, and General Collection Care.

There is a lot that goes into the design and fabrication of an archival custom frame. Whether a minimal TIG welded aluminum frame, acrylic vitrine, or a custom carved wood, 22k gilded antique revival frame, each design can have a variety of approaches and materials.

Topics are written top help familiarize our clients with the materials and techiniques that are recommended for fine framing.

Click Here to Review Helpful Information about Finished Corner Frames, Gilding, Welded Frames, Specialty Glass and Acrylic, Archival and Museum Quality Framing.

Our emergency care articles are a helpful introduction on how to prevent damage through preventative measuresfor art and antique collections.  When a disaster strikes, prompt response and taking the right steps can mitigate further damage.  

Topics are based on twenty years of firsthand experience of handling a variety of fine art, framing and antique losses.

Click Here to Review Helpful Information about Prevention and Recovery Efforts for Fire Damage, Water Damage, and General Collection Care.

Onsite

Clients are welcome to make an appointment to drop off items at one of our studio locations for an estimate.

Upon completion of the assessment, we will follow up with a written condition report and treatment proposal for your approval.

Custom framing appointments can also be made at any of locations.

To schedule an appointment please feel welcome to email, call, or submit an inquiry via through our form at the bottom of the page.