How To Save Your Stuff From A Disaster - SBDCNet - National SBDC Information Clearinghouse

SBDCNet National Information Clearinghouse

How To Save Your Stuff From A Disaster

Complete instructions on how to
protect and save your treasured family
photographs, letters, certificates, and other
family history, memorabilia, heirlooms and collectables.

Have you ever lost a possession that was dear to you in an earthquake, hurricane or fire? Porcelains that broke, a book that was ruined by water or photos that were burned or blown away? What are you afraid of loosing in the next "big one"?

This book is ammunition to fight the fight and protect the innocent... your family's history. I've been involved in nine "major" disasters: three earthquakes (Silomar 1971, Whittier 1989 and Northridge 1994), five fires (Santa Barbara 1990, 2008, Oakland 1993, 2 in 2009) and one flood (Santa Barbara 1995) and though people loose homes, cars, toys etc., by far the items for which I hear the most crying are the things that make up a person's family history... things that cannot be replaced with insurance money.

There is almost a spiritual identity that people feel for the items that tell their story, and about their parents and their ancestors. I remember when Joan Rivers was talking to Dorothy Adams of Conservation Materials Ltd. about Quake Wax on QVC TV and among the hype, hustle, lights and make up (she wore a lot!!... can we talk!?) there was a moment when Joan softened and became emotional when she realized that had she used this product, she would have saved a dear ceramic keepsake from the Northridge Earthquake. She became really quite emotional about an item that was worth very little money.

So it is with the photos, letters and certificates, portraits and lots of other "stuff" that may be unceremoniously dropped on you after Auntie passes on (of course, there are the lucky ones that inherit something valuable too). Whether you're a collector or you're old enough to be an antique yourself, there are lots of hands on, how to instructions in this book that will help you to protect and preserve your stuff. God bless you for taking your project to heart. Preserving your family's history will benefit more people than just you.

Our website will keep you updated on new articles, videos and progress with the launch of the 2nd edition of our book How To Save Your Stuff From A Disaster. Click here to email the author for a copy of the 1st Edition.