Civil protection - Rescue from moisture and dirt: Federal Archives gearing up
After water ingress, flooding or other natural disasters, irretrievable documents from archives are to be secured and rescued more quickly in future. To this end, the Federal Archives have purchased three mobile emergency stations in which damaged collections can first be cleaned of mud and packed, before being frozen and later restored.
"In times when we are increasingly having to deal with extreme weather events, disaster protection is more important than ever," said Michael Hollmann, President of the Federal Archives, on Monday at the presentation of the three units, each of which fits on a trailer. "We must do everything we can to protect cultural assets in the best possible way."
Examples of such emergencies in the past include the Ahr Valley flood, the collapse of the Cologne City Archive and the Elbe flood. According to the Federal Archives, they have helped to rescue collections in each case. The three new trailers are to be stationed in Berlin, Koblenz and Freiburg.
According to the Federal Archives, the purchase cost a total of around 60,000 euros, financed by special funds from the Bundestag. The Federal Archives plan to invest a total of three million euros in the expansion of their disaster protection, for example in greater capacity for freeze-drying.
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- The recent floods in the Ahr Valley and the Elbe, as well as the collapse of the Cologne City Archive, have all required swift and effective disaster control, with the Federal Archives playing a crucial role in the rescue of valuable documents.
- Due to the increasing frequency of natural disasters such as flooding, the importance of having an effective disaster protection strategy cannot be overstated, as highlighted by Michael Hollmann, President of the Federal Archives.
- In the face of extreme weather events, the Federal Archives in Germany have taken steps to fortify their disaster response capabilities, spending approximately 60,000 euros on three new mobile emergency stations, purchased with funds from the Bundestag.
- In the event of floods or other natural disasters, the Federal Archives' mobile emergency stations can quickly and efficiently address water ingress, allowing for the cleaning, freezing, and later restoration of damaged collections.
- The wetness caused by flooding or similar natural disasters can pose a significant threat to cultural assets, making the rescue and preservation efforts of the Federal Archives crucial in ensuring that history and knowledge are not lost to future generations.
Source: www.stern.de
