Publications on emergency response

A new collection of handy tools designed especially for libraries,
archives, museums, historic sites, and historic preservation and
arts organizations has been released by the Heritage Emergency
National Task Force. The tools are the result of the Task Force's
"Lessons Applied" initiative to develop practical applications for
the lessons from Hurricane Katrina, such as helping cultural
institutions apply for disaster aid and developing relationships
with emergency responders.

The new tools are available as free downloads at

    <URL:http://www.heritageemergency.org>

    Tips for Working with Emergency Responders

        Getting to know local emergency responders and how they work
        before disaster strikes can help keep staff and collections
        safe. This handy sheet tells how to find and build
        relationships with emergency responders, as well as what
        information needs to be exchanged to help responders protect
        cultural institutions.

    Guide to Navigating FEMA and SBA Funding

        This concise Web site leads cultural institutions through
        the process of applying to the Small Business Administration
        (SBA) and FEMA for assistance after major disasters. Links
        put policies, application forms, and other necessary
        paperwork at the user's fingertips along with simple,
        step-by-step instructions for the application process.

    MayDay

        MayDay is an annual event that encourages cultural
        institutions to undertake one simple emergency preparedness
        task. Created by the Society of American Archivists, MayDay
        was expanded in 2007 to include libraries, museums, and arts
        and historic preservation organizations. This year hundreds
        of organizations promoted the message, and FEMA featured
        MayDay on its Web site. The Task Force has produced a list
        of suggested MayDay activities, as well as promotional
        materials.

    Recommended Professional Emergency Management Training

        Most staff members want to help in the aftermath of an
        emergency at their institutions or in their communities. The
        free courses listed in this resource teach cultural heritage
        staff and volunteer teams about local, state, and federal
        disaster response frameworks already in place, as well as
        official protocols and structure, terminology, and key local
        contacts.

Panels composed of Task Force members and other experts have been
working since October 2006 to prepare new resources and develop
longer-term recommendations in the areas of incentives for
preparedness, working with first responders, effective regional
response, funding, and coordination among service organizations. The
Task Force met July 17, 2007, to announce the new tools and discuss
results of a member survey on Katrina, which will help the group
prepare for future events. Other proposed initiatives include a
preparedness poster, speakers' bureau on cultural heritage
emergencies, guidelines for mutual assistance networks, GIS
standards for cultural collections, a collections stabilization
fund, and a new Foundation Center guide identifying disaster
resources.

The "Lessons Applied" initiative has been made possible through
grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Bay
and Paul Foundations and the volunteer efforts of Task Force
members. See
<URL:http://www.heritagepreservation.org/lessons/panels.html> for a
complete roster of panel members.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a partnership of 41
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.

For over 30 years, Heritage Preservation has been the national,
nonprofit advocate for the proper care of all cultural heritage-in
museums, libraries, homes, and town squares. For more information,
visit <URL:http://www.heritagepreservation.org>. The National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency
created in 1965. It is the largest funder of humanities programs in
the United States. For more information, visit
<URL:http://www.neh.gov>.

Mary Rogers
Coordinator
Collections Care and Emergency Programs
Heritage Preservation, Inc.
1012 14th St. NW, Ste. 1200
Washington, DC 20005
202-233-0825
Fax: 202-233-0807


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:17
                  Distributed: Saturday, July 21, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-21-17-013
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