Preparation & Response for Cultural Institutions

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Introduction

Jan Stouffer, Director of Operations for the National Czech & Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, gives a tour to a team from the National Trust for Historic Presrvation, Iowa SHPO, and Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance.

Credit: Jennifer Sandy, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Cultural institutions are often in the position of caring for vast and varied collections of historic artifacts comprising unique vulnerabilities to natural disasters--particularly floods, fires, and earthquakes.  While these institutions sometimes steward historic buildings, it is more often the collections themselves that necessitate disaster preparedness planning, and collections demand a sort of planning distinct from buildings.  This document is designed to help cultural institutions plan for disasters. 

The most critical resources relating to this topic are marked below with a check.

Critical Organizations

• FEMA, Enivronmental Planning and Historic Preservation Program
• Heritage Preservation, Heritage Emergency National Task Force

Documents for Cultural Institutions

Getting The Right Insurance For Your Historic Building (Forum News, March/April 2009)

Credit: Forum News

Heritage Preservation is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the nation's heritage, and has produced extensive documentation--both alone and in concert with federal programs--to help cultural institutions and other parties prepare for natural disasters.  A unit of Heritage Preservation, the Heritage Emergency National Task Force offers tools and information to cultural institutions and the general public for preparing for and responding to emergencies that affect collections and family treasures.  In addition to the documents listed below, Heritage Preservation and the Task Force are indispensible resources for any cultural institution seeking to prepare for natural disaster.  Heritage Preservation's own list of resources for emergency planning an preparedness can be found here.

Preparation

•  Building An Emergency Plan: A Guide for Museums and Other Cultural Institutions(Getty Conservation Institute).  A guide to planning geared specifically to cultural institutions rather than physical built fabric.  Features case studies and information for specific teams within an organization.
• Integrating Historic Property and Cultural Resource Considerations Into Hazard Mitigation Planning: State and Local Mitigation Planning How-To Guide (FEMA 386-6 / May 2005) 
• A Guide to the Disaster Declaration Process(FEMA) 
• dPlan, produced by a cooperative effort between the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, the Northeast Document Conservation Center, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, is an online disaster planning tool for cultural and civic institutions.
• Getting The Right Insurance For Your Historic Building (Free, Forum News, March/April 2009, Volume XV, No. 4)
• Liability Insurance Basics for Nonprofits (Forum News, November 2009,Vol. 16, No. 3; members-only content)
• Water-Resistant Design and Construction: An Illustrated Guide to Preventing Water Intrusion, Condensation, and Mold (McGraw Hill 2007, 286 pages).  An in-depth guide to preparing your home to withstand water intrusion threats from floods, hurricanes, and severe storms.  
• Fire Safety in Historic Buildings (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
• Fire Safety Retrofitting (General Services Administration)
• State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) List, found at the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers' website.

Response

• Field Guide to Emergency Response, published by Heritage Preservation.  Geared toward cultural institutions, this publication is a step-by-step guide to deal dealing with disaster scenarios.
• Coping With Water Damage (Heritage Preservation) is an informative video on how to re-enter flooded buildings and deal with damaged contents and collections. 
• State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) List, found at the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers' website.

Financial Resources for Planning & Response

• FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program   This program provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, communities, and universities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event.
• FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program.  This program is designed to provide assistance to State, Tribal and local governments, and certain types of Private Nonprofit organizations so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President.  
• Before and After Disasters: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions (FEMA).  This guide is an updated and expanded version of Resources for Recovery: Post-Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions, first developed in 1992 by Heritage Preservation and then revised in 2000. Before and After Disasters includes summary descriptions and contact information for 15 Federal grant and loan programs (pdf).
• National Trust For Historic Preservation Grant Funds.  The National Trust provides two types of assistance to nonprofit organizations and public agencies: 1) matching grants from $500 to $5,000 for preservation planning and educational efforts, and 2) intervention funds for preservation emergencies.  Visit the Grant Funds website to learn more about the availability of funds and how to apply for assistance.

For Further Reading

• Field Guide to Emergency Response, published by Heritage Preservation.  Geared toward cultural institutions, this publication is a step-by-step guide to deal dealing with disaster scenarios.
• The Importance of Heritage Preservation in Natural Disaster Situations (International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management 2007 - Vol. 7, No.6/7  pp. 993 - 1001, fee for purchase)