Do One Thing for Emergency Preparedness
Archives, libraries, museums, and historic preservation organizations across America will set aside May 1, 2008, to participate in MayDay, a national effort to protect collections from disasters. In 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma provided » read more
Do One Thing for Emergency Preparedness
Archives, libraries, museums, and historic preservation organizations across America will set aside May 1, 2008, 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, released soon after the hurricanes, reported that few institutions are really prepared. It's 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 (http://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.
- Update your staff contact information and create a wallet-size version of your emergency contact roster. See the Council of State Archivists' Pocket Response PlanTM (PRePTM).
- 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.
- 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. Last year, the registrar of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, Mississippi, wrote an article about the museum’s emergency preparedness activities for the local newspaper. She included readiness tips for the homeowner and tied it all into the MayDay message (http://livefromlrma.blogspot.com/20070401_archive.html).
Drop Us a Note...
Let Heritage Preservation know what you do for MayDay this year by e-mailing taskforce@heritagepreservation.org. You’ll receive a free Working with Emergency Responders:Tips for Cultural Institutions poster.
Wheel and Field Guide Sale
In celebration of MayDay, Heritage Preservation is offering its popular Field Guide to Emergency Response and Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel at special MayDay sale prices from April 15 to May 31.
For More Suggestions...
Additional suggested MayDay activities are posted at www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFlessons/MayDayInfo.html
Share the News...
Let your colleagues know about MayDay by forwarding this message.
Post MayDay information on your Web site or in a newsletter. A text version of this press release is available on the Heritage Preservation Web site, and five variations of the MayDay logo are available electronically in both PDF and JPEG formats at www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/tflessons/MayDay.html.
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