Volunteers are coming to two of the counties hardest-hit by the June 23 flood to help salvage photos damaged in the disaster.
Operation Photo Rescue works to restore photos damaged by unforeseen events, such as house fires or natural disasters.
This Friday and Saturday, volunteers will be in the Ray Room on the third floor of the Kanawha County Main Library at 123 Capitol St. in Charleston, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days.
Volunteers will be at the Richwood Public Library at 8 White Ave. in Richwood from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday.
They will take photos of damaged photos, then restore the digital version, to the best of their ability, using the Adobe Photoshop program, according to Margie Hayes, president of the organization. Flood victims will be able to keep their original photos.
"That's one thing that makes people feel more comfortable," Hayes said. "If that's all they've got left, they don't want us taking off with their photos."
The organization will mail the completed photos to flood victims free of charge.
Hayes, a retired technical writer, started volunteering with the organization in 2007. She will be one of several volunteers in town this weekend.
She said many of the people they've served were surprised their photos could even be restored.
"Most of the time people are just so happy that you came to help them," she said.
Two former journalists, Dave Ellis and Becky Sell, started Operation Photo Rescue in 2006 to help Hurricane Katrina victims, after Sell saw a family throwing a photo away.
Hayes estimated that since that time, volunteers have restored about 12,000 photos.
Hayes warned that some photos are beyond saving, for instance, "if over half the face is gone."
If photos are brought in that are larger than 8x10, volunteers will reduce the copy's size to 8x10 to reduce shipping cost.
Each family may submit up to 20 damaged photos. Photos should be dry and fee of mud. If possible, photos should be removed from picture frames or plastic holders. However, if they are stuck, do not remove. For more information, email info@operationphotorescue.org. More information is also available at www.operationphotorescue.org.
Those attending an event in Charleston can also call 304-343-4646, extension 1221 or email elizabeth.fraser@kanawhalibrary.org. Those attending an event in Richwood can also call 304-846-6099.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.