Texas Collections Emergency Resource Alliance

Organizations could participate in at least one activity or plan to take simple steps throughout the year:

• If you have a disaster plan, dust it off and make sure it's up to date.

• If you don't have a plan, commit to creating one by making a timeline for developing it.

• Conduct a building evacuation drill, evaluate the results, and discuss ways to improve your staff's performance. 

• Update your staff contact information and create a wallet-size version of your emergency contact roster using the Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™)

• Identify the three biggest risks to your collection or building (such as a dust storm, leaking water pipe, heavy snow, or power failure) and outline steps to mitigate them. You can use FAIC's tools for risk evaluation to guide your assessment. 

• Identify and prioritize important collection materials.

• Eliminate hazards such as storage in hallways, blocked fire exits, or improper storage of paints, solvents, etc.

• Make a plan to install any needed safety systems.

• Plan to train and drill an in-house disaster team.

• Provide staff with easily accessible disaster response information, such as the Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel. 

• Get to know your local firefighters and police--invite them to come tour your institution and give you pointers on safety and preparedness.

• Plan to take a course on risk assessment or disaster planning. 

Link to the FAIC MayDay Site

May 2 - FAIC - Connecting to Collections Care - Where to Find Aid and How to Get Training for Disasters

May 4 - ALA - Preservation Week - Networking Strategies Improve Disaster Readiness

AIHA - Cultural Heritage Emergency Preparedness and Response: Guidelines for the OEHS Professional

Getty News - What's the Best Way to Dry Wet Art?

WAAC - Salvage At a Glance

Ready.gov - National Wildfire Preparedness Month

The Mesothelioma Center - Asbestos and Natural Disasters Guide

• Make printed paper copies of your disaster plan and contact list available to all employees. Digital copies may become unavailable due to power loss.

  • Determine and rank the likelihood of disasters, hazards and/or other emergencies in your area

  • Complete a site/facilities/buildings assessment

  • Estimate site location/distance and response-time considerations

  • Review personnel abilities, training needs, and responsibilities

  • Assess assets and collection materials, including a review of current insurance, documentation and prioritization of assets

  • Investigate resource availability and review Vendor Contracts

  • Test and revise the preparedness, response, and recovery plans

• No disaster plan? The below links are useful information in helping to customize one for your site:

  • National Park Service (NPS), Museum Handbook, Part I: Museum Collections, Ch. 10c-f: Emergency Planning 

  • American Institute of Conservation (AIC), Heritage Emergency Program, Risk Evaluation and Planning Program 

  • Building An Emergency Plan: A Guide for Museums and Other Cultural Institutions 

  • Texas Association of Museums: PREP Planning for Response & Emergency Preparedness 

  • Ready.gov - Hurricanes

This is a rotating section of available disaster planning, response, and recovery grants or other funding opportunities for Cultural Institutions, Historic Sites, Museums, Archives or Special Collections.

• Emergency Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) Program - The Emergency CAP is more flexible in that it does not adhere to the annual schedule of the regular CAP program. The goal is to help museums in federally declared disaster areas receive post-disaster collections care recommendations from conservation and building professionals on an expedited basis. 

• Texas Library Association (TLA) Disaster Relief Fund - The Texas Library Association awards grants to libraries impacted by natural disasters. Grants range from $2,500 to $5,000 and can be used for technology, facility repair, collections, furnishings, or other needs related to storm damage. Academic, public, school and special libraries are eligible to receive assistance.