On May 1st, the Heritage Emergency National Task Force is encouraging organizations to set aside some time to do at least one thing to get more prepared to respond to a disaster.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a partnership of 40 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. The Task Force was founded in 1995 and is co-sponsored by Heritage Preservation and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its primary goals are to: Help cultural heritage institutions and sites be better prepared for emergencies and obtain needed resources when disaster strikes; Encourage the incorporation of cultural and historic assets into disaster planning and mitigation efforts at all levels of government; Facilitate a more effective and coordinated response to all kinds of emergencies, including catastrophic events; Assist the public in recovering treasured heirlooms damaged by disasters.

Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma provided a wake-up call, reminding everyone of the importance of disaster preparedness. Ironically, the Heritage Health Index, released soon after the hurricanes, reported that few institutions have disaster plans, and for some of those that do, the plan is out of date. Given human nature, it’s easy to put off disaster planning.  In Oklahoma, the disasters include tornados, ice storms, floods, fires and now earthquakes.  

That is why the Heritage Emergency National Task Force hopes cultural organizations will join them for MayDay. On May 1st, the Heritage Emergency National Task Force is encouraging organizations to set aside some time to do at least one thing to get more prepared to respond to a disaster.

Here are some simple ideas for your consideration:
• 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. Consider using dPlan, a free online program to help institutions write comprehensive disaster plans. dPlan provides an easy-to-use template that allows museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions of all sizes to develop a customized plan. http://www.nedcc.org/about/news.dplan.php  
• Review and update key documents (including collections inventories and site, building, room, and storage plans); make copies to be sent off site.
• Conduct a building evacuation drill, evaluate the results, and discuss ways to improve on your staff’s performance.
• Update your staff contact information and create a wallet-size version of your emergency contact roster, e.g., Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™) at http://www.statearchivists.org/prepare/index.htm#preps .
• Assess risks to your collection.
• Identify and prioritize important collection materials.
• Eliminate hazards such as storage in hallways, blocked fire exits, or improper storage of paints, solvents, etc.
• Do annual maintenance and checks—test your alarm system(s) & fire extinguishers.
• 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 Field Guide to Emergency Response. http://www.heritagepreservation.org/Update/2006/06suFieldGuide.HTM
• List and plan to secure disaster response supplies for documentation, personal safety, clean-up, and salvage.
• Identify off-site storage options for your collections.
• Find a "buddy" institution to work with in case of a disaster.
• Get to know your local firefighters and police—invite them to come tour your institution and give you pointers on safety and preparedness.
• Develop a timeline for writing a continuity of operations plan.
• Plan to take a course in risk assessment or disaster planning.

You can make a difference—help save our heritage!