Bringing a historic structure that has been ravaged by a natural disaster back to life requires information and resources that are not always top-of-mind for home or business owners. Over the years, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and our partners have compiled a wide variety of documentation designed to help plan and prepare in the unfortunate event that disaster strikes.

PREPAREDNESS, PLANNING & RESPONSE

In dealing with the often sudden and disorienting impacts of natural disasters, effective preparation and planning are proven to pay off during response. In many cases, local communities don’t fully understand the historic resources they stand to lose until it is too late—structures are wiped away, details and artifacts are irreparably damaged, integrity is forever compromised. Historic preservationists have a valuable perspective to offer both in planning for disasters and in recovering from them. The information offered on the following pages is designed to help meaningfully integrate preservation practice into this work and ultimately increase the survival of historic resources.

The resource guides below contain key advice for disaster preparation, and provide links to essential planning documents that can help you, your organization, or your city both prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

	Audience	Disaster Type	Resource Guide
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	All	The Case For Planning: Why Cities, Organizations & Homeowners Need To Plan For Disasters
	Local Governments	All	Preparation | Response
	Homeowners	All	Preparation | Response
	Local Preservation Organizations & Main Streets	All	Preparation | Response
	Businesses	All	Preparation & Response
	Cultural Institutions	All	Preparation & Response
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	Fire	Preparation & Response
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Wind	Preparation & Response
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	Earthquakes	Preparation & Response
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	Floods	Preparation | Response
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	All	Financial Resources For Preparation, Planning & Response
	Fire Departments, Life Safety Personnel & Emergency Managers	All	Engaging The Preservation Community In Preparation & Response
	Homeowners, Local Governments, and Organizations	Various	Other Threats: Terrorism & Termites