Cultural Institutions To Observe MayDay
Do One Thing for Emergency Preparedness

Archives, libraries, museums and historic preservation organizations across America are setting aside May 1, 2010, to participate in MayDay, a national effort to protect collections from disasters. In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma provided a wake-up call. More recently, severe storms reminded us that disaster can strike with little warning.

The Heritage Health Index reports that few institutions are really prepared in the wake of a disaster. It is easy to put off disaster planning, but you can take one simple step to prepare for disaster this MayDay. Here are some ideas from the Heritage Emergency National Task Force:

• If you have a disaster plan, dust it off and bring it up to date.
• If you don't have a plan, make a timeline for developing one.
• Get to know your local firefighters and police. Invite them to tour your institution and give pointers on safety and preparedness. A poster outlining tips for working with emergency responders (www.heritagepreservation.org/catalog/) is available from the Task Force.
• Identify the three biggest risks to your collection or building (such as leaking water pipe, heavy snow, or power failure) and outline steps to mitigate them.
• Conduct a building evacuation drill and evaluate the results.
• Update your staff contact information and create a wallet-size version of your emergency contact roster. See the Pocket Response Plan^TM (PReP^TM) at www.statearchivists.org/prepare/framework/prep.htm.
• Eliminate hazards such as storage in hallways, blocked fire exits, or improper storage of paints or solvents.
• Provide staff with easily accessible disaster response information, such as www.heritageemergency.org.
• Join forces with nearby institutions and agree to assist each other in case of a disaster.
• Establish a method of identifying objects that are most important to your mission, irreplaceable, or most fragile, making evacuation simpler when disaster hits.
• Register for a free course to learn how your institution fits into existing emergency response protocols. A list is available at www.heritagepreservation.org/lessons/courses.html.

Any organization can participate in MayDay. You can make a difference - help save our heritage!

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force is making disaster preparedness and response a higher priority for cultural heritage organizations across the country. The Task Force - an initiative of Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency - is a partnership of 41 government agencies and national service organizations. For more information, visit www.heritageemergency.org.

Heritage Preservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving our nation's heritage. Its members include libraries, museums, archives, historic preservation organizations, historical societies, conservation organizations, and other professional groups concerned with saving the past for the future. For information on its programs visit www.heritagepreservation.org.