Texas Collections Emergency Resource Alliance

FEMA, HENFT, and TDEM Have Shared the Following Resources: 

• HENFT - Rapid Damage Assessment Form for Cultural Institutions

• FEMA - Individual Assistance

• FEMA - Public Assistance

• TDEM iSTAT - Damage Survey Tool

Response and Salvage Resources for Cultural Heritage:

• SI - PRICE - Emergency Documentation

• FEMA - Save Your Family Treasures - Fact Sheets Available in English and Spanish

• Western Association for Art Conservation (WAAC) - Salvage at a Glance by Betty Walsh

• Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) - Preservation Leaflets

• National Archives - Objects Recovery

• FAIC - Emergency Response and Salvage App - Apple Version

• NHR Tip Sheet - Working With Recovery Vendors: What You Should Know

• FAIC - Emergency (CAP) Program

• FAIC - Find A Conservator

• TX-CERA Quick Guide to Wet Salvage Posters - Books, Inorganic Objects, Magnetic & Optical Media, Paintings, Photographic Materials, Skin & Leather

(Visit the Resources Page for additional resources.)

NOAA National Weather Service forecasters predict an above-normal hurricane season activity in the Atlantic basin this year. Hurricane season spans from June 1 to November 30. Wildfire season is year-long in Texas, but risk is more severe in winter (February - April) and summer ( August - October). 

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

• Make printed paper copies of your disaster plan and contact list available to all employees. (Digital copies may become unavailable due to power loss.) The Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™) creates a wallet-size version of your emergency contact roster.

  • Determine and rank the likelihood of disasters, hazards and/or other emergencies in your area. You can use FAIC's tools for risk evaluation to guide your assessment. 

  • Complete a site/facilities/buildings assessment. Eliminate hazards such as storage in hallways, blocked fire exits, or improper storage of paints, solvents, etc.

  • Get to know your local First Responders. Estimate site location/distance and response-time considerations in the event of a disaster.

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

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

  • Find alerts (such as the FEMA app or local community alerts) to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.

• No disaster plan? Commit to creating one by making a timeline for developing it. The following links can provide a starting point. View our Resources Page for additional information to help 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

  • Ready.gov - Wildfires

  • TX-CERA - Hurricane Season Preparation Tips