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Getting Prepared

KEY STEPS IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

  1. Assess potential sources of emergencies to collections, such as: tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, lack of fire alarms or suppression systems,eaking roof, and scheduled construction.
  2. Set priorities for collections and determine what tools would be needed in an emergency.
  3. Identify and put into effect all possible preventive measures.
  4. Identify insurance coverage, emergency funds, and/or accounting procedures.
  5. Write down as briefly as possible the immediate emergency procedures to be used in case of disastrous conditions, train staff, and post instructions at all telephones.
  6. List names and phone numbers of staff (and their backups) to be called upon in case of disaster, and post this list at all telephones.
  7. Write a detailed emergency preparedness plan geared to your own institution and collections. There are many plans available as guides if needed. Include detailed recovery techniques for all materials found in the collections, as well as the building, furnishings, and electronic equipment. Assume that the person using the plan will have no background or expertise in emergency response.
  8. Make sure that supplies, services, equipment and consultants needed for immediate response are stockpiled and/or identified with names and phone numbers. These should be replaced if used and/or updated at least annually.
  9. Assign emergency preparedness and response committee members and train them. If possible, name a chair who has had some training in recovery techniques, preferably someone in the field of preservation.
  10. Include in the final emergency plan maps with your priorities marked for all collections and departments. Confidential information may be limited to a few people to protect security.
  11. Share the plan broadly with fire and security people. Ask for their feedback.
  12. Read about emergency recovery. Keep up with the latest techniques. Build a modest reference collection dealing with recovery for a variety of materials. Be familiar with your own plan. Train staff to use it.

Courses we recommend:

MS253: Disaster Preparation and Recovery Online Course

 

 

 

MS205/6: Disaster Plan Research and Writing Online Course

 

 

 

 

 

Books and products we recommend:

Fire Prevention Programs for MuseumsCCI Tech Bulletin #18 Fire Prevention Programs for Museums by Paul Baril
Will help museums develop and implement effective fire prevention programs. The basic elements of fire prevention programs are discussed, as well as the administration of the program. Numerous examples are provided to help museum staffs prepare documents and procedures.

Fire Prevention Programs for Museums $18.00 [Learn More]

Security Hardware and Security System Planning for MuseumsCCI Tech Bulletin #19 Security Hardware and Security System Planning for Museums by Wayne Kelly
Helps cultural institutions with their preparations against threats of theft and vandalism. Numerous, inexpensive methods of improving security and various types of currently available sensors and computerized alarm systems are illustrated and described. Several kinds of sensors and their placement within a standardized level of protection proposed for each area in a cultural facility are also recommended.

Security Hardware & Security System Planning $18.00 [Learn More]


Links to related information on other sites:

A useful tool for preparing and responding to emergencies is the
Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel
http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/newsletters/12_2/gcinews4.html

There are links to more texts at:
Disaster Planning and Response
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/disasters/

Other useful articles:
National Task Force on Emergency Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/taskfer.htm

Emergency Preparedness Bibliography
http://www.museum-security.org/bibliog2.html

Earthquake Preparedness Information
http://www.naem.com/naem/eqk.html

What is an Emergency? What is a Disaster?
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/pub/seibert/whatsa.html

How to Prepare for an Emergency
http://theepicenter.com/howto.html#supplies

NORMAS BÁSICAS PARA LA PREPARACIÓN, GESTIÓN Y RESPUESTA ANTE DESASTRES: MATERIALES CON SOPORTE DE PAPEL (A Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials, in Spanish)
http://www.archives.gov/preservation/spanish/spanish-primer-disaster-preparedness.html

A Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials
http://www.archives.gov/preservation/emergency-prep/disaster-prep-primer.html

CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND RECOVERY AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY (courses)
http://www.masp.com/

Disaster Preparedness And Recovery For Works Of Art On Paper
http://www.bishopmuseum.org/research/pdfs/cnsv-disaster.pdf