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Monday, August 13, 2012

Disaster Proof Data Protection For Anyone

By Bryant S. Cole


Safeguarding personal important documents have come along way over the last 20 years, thanks mostly to advancements in technology such as microfilm used by banking institutions and medical establishments that handle many important personal information documents and data everyday. In the event of tragedies there are ways to recover any personal information that might have been at risk giving everyone a piece of mind that previous generations did not have access to. In those days, if it was destroyed, it was gone forever.

This is very handy if you need to make a simple copy of a document and cannot find your copy. As fantastic as this might be, there are variables in this mix that can restrict you from getting these documents fast such as a nationwide tragedy. Also it is wise to understand that older documents might be harder to find if they need to be replaced. With these information nuggets, you should have a kit prepared for such emergencies that would contain all these necessary documents and have them protected but within reach and in waterproof protected holders that you can grab and go. Here are some procedures you need to know about and follow if you have to exit in a hurry.

If however you have personal things such as photos that have not been protected, don't try to separate materials like photos or photo albums that do get wet, you do more damage a and make them unsalvageable and destroyed forever. Instead consider taking them to disaster recovery expert who is well trained in process such as vacuum freeze drying or bulk freezing that will allow them to safely separate and save these precious items.

You should be very cautious of mold that can be a serious issue especially if the files are not submerged any more. Therefore, you should take personal precautionary measures. Mold is extremely hazardous and can easily spread itself to other items, and you should consider freezing and even drying the moldy objects immediately.

Most all federal, state and local government offices have websites that can help you start your road to documentation recovery fast and easy. Many times if you try to get help from a local physical office it can take days and sometimes weeks to get documents such as drivers license, identity cards, and passports depending on your state of residence. The same holds true for medical documentation issues.

Your papers will also absorb moisture because of their hygroscopic properties. Therefore they will start swelling, curling and even growing mold. You should know that the critical time for papers once a disaster happens is the first forty eight hours therefore the restoration of these files should be within that time or you may lose permanently cause damage to them.

Freezing any document or manuscript will stop mold growth immediately. You should access the damage to any papers as you find them and quickly formulate a plan of action that must be implemented immediately. Prioritize your files by value and need. After flood or water damage you should rinse off your papers first with cool clean water before freezing or drying them. Starting with the most important ones first, place the paper between wax paper and put them in a freezer. This will also make it easier to do an inventory of what was damaged.

Of course the best possible alternative to having to deal with any of this would be to take steps to properly store your documents in the first place. Secure online document storage is the newest way to keep everything from personal records to critical documents safe. It is also the best as well as simplest way to keep your personal documentation secure.




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