We recently heard from a customer whose basement was flooded. Although we were able to fully restore the basement, one thing could not be replaced. He had a box of tintype pictures of his ancestors, and the water made most of them stick together and rust over. Even if we could have separated them, the images were destroyed. And they were irreplaceable; tintypes don’t have negatives. Why did this happen? Because he stored the box on a bottom shelf, the first thing that gets hit in a flood.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this sad story is a reminder that your most precious belongings should be stored in watertight boxes and kept on your highest shelves, or better yet, in your attic if you have one. As you protect your home and family, don’t forget to protect your family history.