Operation Photo Rescue is saving memories, one disaster at a time. And, the organization is now considering whether to come to the Pensacola area in the wake of the extensive damage from the local flooding event in April.
The organization is a federally registered 501 (c) (3) not for profit charity that restores photographs that have been damaged by natural disasters. It was started by photo journalists Dave Ellis and Becky Sell in early 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. It now has 2,000 volunteers world-wide. Michigan resident Mike Sluder is one of those volunteers, who also serves as vice president of the group.
“Basically what we do is go to disaster areas, three to six months after the event, and make digital copies of damaged photos from the disaster. Then our volunteers will restore those photos, one at a time.”
The restoration process can take from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks, or even a month, to restore a single photo to its original condition. After the restoration is completed, it’s sent to quality control. Once approved, it’s printed out and mailed back the owner at no charge.
Sluder says they’ll restore any photo that’s important to people “as long as they are in good taste.” Their typical limit is around 20 photos, although they will make exceptions.
“We had one woman bring in her whole wedding album and she had 40 (photos), and they were all quite different.”
Because Operation Photo Rescue is dealing with precious memories, volunteers have to have some level of skill and are put through extensive screening. They have to prove they can restore a photo to its original condition, with no additions or subtractions, such as removing scars. Also, volunteers are often-times spending their own money to pay for restoration equipment and to make trips to disaster areas.
Since Hurricane Katrina, Operation Photo Rescue volunteers have responded to a number of disasters across the country. Sluder says he’s personally traveled to Joplin, Missouri, site of an F-5 tornado; Seaside Heights, New Jersey, after Hurricane Sandy; and Hershey, Pennsylvania, which had water up to the third floor of buildings due to flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.
Currently, a team of volunteers is working on saving photos that were buried in the March 22, 2014 mudslide in Oso, Washington.
All the photos are precious, but Sluder says sometimes it tugs on the heart a little bit. He referenced a young lady in Joplin. “Her husband had her get into the bathtub and covered her up to protect her. She lived; he did not. We were able to restore her wedding photos. And, I personally restored a single photo of them together in the church at their wedding,” he says, adding that it’s very satisfying because there’s no way to recreate the event, and the photo may be the only one they have of a loved one. “People really appreciate it. Many times when they get the photos, they’re in tears looking at them, because it’s very important.”
Operation Photo Rescue is now reaching out to offer assistance in saving the important family photos of people in the Pensacola area, who suffered damage the flooding in April. He says volunteers are prepared to hold an event this fall at the West Florida Public Library, if there’s enough of a need to justify the cost of their travel.
“Basically, we’d like to see 500-600 photos or more that need to be restored.”
If there’s not that volume of need, individuals can contact the organization and make arrangements to submit their photos for restoration. Sending by Priority Mail is encouraged, so that photos are insured and tracked. Again, digital copies will be made of the damaged photos, which will be mailed right back. The restored photos will be sent as soon as the process is complete.
For more information, visit the Operation Photo Rescue website. To request assistance, email Mike Sluder at msluder@operationphotorescue.org.
