Pipes

Water pipes typically run throughout a building and may well be located directly over areas where collections are stored. Any water from a leaking pipe will run to the lowest level in the building, making all areas beneath a leak susceptible to damage. Know where pipes run directly over stack areas.

The Roof

Know the age and current condition of your roof. Roof weaknesses are usually discovered in the middle of a rainy season, just when protection is needed most. Regularly inspect roofs and roof drains to ensure that they are not clogged. Note that flat roofs tend to collect debris which may clog the drains. Roofs have limited life spans. If your roof was guaranteed to last 15 years and has passed its tenth year, begin making plans to replace it.

Flooding

We know that flooding has hit Vermont in the past and that it will again in the future. The flooding has been of two types-rain and/or snowmelt events that cause flooding in the major rivers' flood plains, and localized flash flooding caused by unusually large rainstorms over a small area. Both kinds of events can be worsened by ice or debris dams and the failure of culverts, private dams, and beaver dams.

Severe Weather

Thunderstorms can generate high winds, such as those in 1999 when hundreds of large trees were downed in eastern Vermont in a few minutes. The state has also experienced tornadoes. Winter Snow and Ice Storms have collapsed roofs, downed power lines, and snapped thousands of trees. Extreme cold, especially when the ground is not insulated by snow, can feeze water lines, overburden power and heating systems, and hamper transportation. Extreme heat can overload power and cooling systems. Droughts make conditions ripe for wildfires. Surprising as it is to some, Vermont is classified as an area with "moderate" seismic activity. The Middlebury quake in 1962 resulted in broken windows, cracked plaster, and falling objects.

• Inspect your roof twice a year and repair as needed.
• Inspect and repair pipes annually.
• Move collections away from water sources and raise collections at least 5" off the floor.
• Install water alarms in basements or other low-level areas. Link all alarm systems to a 24 hour security office.
• Alert all staff and volunteers to the location of water cutoff valves.
• Shelve collections snugly and enclose in boxes to minimize water penetration.
• Keep rolls of plastic sheeting to cover shelving and cabinets in the event of a leak. Do not, however, use plastic sheeting as a permanent covering for collections: it will prevent good air circulation and create a potential climate for mold.
• Immediately air dry or freeze dry records to prevent further damage and mold growth. Being prepared means developing contacts with the appropriate consultants beforehand.