Resources that can help you salvage cherished family photographs, letters, and other irreplaceable objects:
Save Your Family Treasures | FEMA.gov. This FEMA site offers guidance to help individuals and families salvage their treasured family belongings following a disaster. The site includes the two-page fact sheet Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Treasures (fema.gov), which is available in multiple languages. The site also contains step-by-step instructions to help survivors stabilize their treasured photos, documents and papers, and books and buy time to make an educated decision on further treatment and handling of family mementos.
Resources for the Public | Smithsonian This Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative site offers the above guidance along with additional how-to resources that include videos.
The National Heritage Responders (NHR) is a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation.
The NHR public helpline email address to provide guidance on salvaging family heirlooms: NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org