When Storage Fails: Tsunami Cleanup Missing Records

Recovering lost files and records was obviously not a priority following the Dec. 26 Tsunami that hit South Asia and cost tens of thousands of lives. But as coastal Sri Lanka recovers, the need for records, including property records, criminal files, etc. grows. According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, coastal government offices kept most records on paper, and in many cases, files on lower shelves were destroyed or soaked with sea water.

Disaster recovery resembles laundry. Governments and banks are washing and drying sea-soaked documents, currency and checks -- which were to be keyed into computer systems after Christmas -- extracted from flooded vaults, and ironing mortgages and pay records. Police officers are too busy to rebuild lost criminal files, warrant records and investigative reports. Voter lists -- archived in the capital city -- will need to have the names of thousands of deceased removed.