Cooperative Disaster Networks
Members of a cooperative network collaborate on various initiatives of shared interest, including disaster planning and response. A network can be comprised of a mix of libraries, museums, archives, historic sites, and other cultural institutions. Joining a network can help an institution deal with emergency preparedness and recovery by spreading responsibility among many institutions for organizing training, purchasing supplies, and responding to incidents, not to mention providing moral support. |
Click on a region to see what networks are in those states
or download the list as a PDF.
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
WEST REGION
California
Bay Area Mutual Aid Network (BAMAN)
http://www.calpreservation.org/baman
BAMAN is dedicated to encouraging and supporting disaster preparedness and response among its member libraries. The goals of BAMAN are: to facilitate a network of people willing to help each other in times of local disaster with advice, support, or on-site recovery assistance; to ensure the viability of the network; and to establish and stock additional containers of disaster response supplies.
Contact: Mary Morganti , Bonnie Jo Cullison
Central Coast Disaster Preparedness and Response Network (CCDPRN) http://www.goldcoastlibraries.org/DisasterPrep/index.html
Established in 2008, the Central Coast Disaster Preparedness and Response Network (CCDPRN) comprises libraries and other cultural institutions in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties organized to provide mutual disaster preparedness and response support through training opportunities, resources and disaster response supplies, mutual assistance and encouragement in creating and updating disaster plans for our respective institutions, and mutual support if and when a disaster occurs.
Contact: Kristen LaBonte
Coachella Valley Emergency Preparedness Network
http://www.accarchives.org/cvepn.html
The Coachella Valley Emergency Preparedness Network seeks to protect the historic and cultural heritage of the Coachella Valley through emergency preparedness planning activities including central repositories of emergency supplies, on-going programs and training, and providing assistance to its members.
Contact: Claire Victor
Inland Empire Libraries Disaster Response Network (IELDRN)
http://www.ieldrn.org
IELDRN is a cooperative network of public and academic libraries and museums in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Eastern Los Angeles Counties that work together to prepare for and recover from disasters. The IELDRN membership meets twice a year to discuss disaster issues and/or to
organize workshops and seminars. The Web site provides sample disaster plans and hazard surveys, as well as links to other useful sites. IELDRN stocks disaster supplies at two locations in southern California.
Contact: Patricia Smith-Hunt
Los Angeles Preservation Network, Inc. (LAPNet)
http://www.usc.edu/org/LAPnet
LAPNet serves librarians, archivists, conservators, and records managers in Los Angeles city and county by fostering the development of cooperative preservation programs among local libraries and serving as an information exchange on preservation concerns. LAPNet conducts periodic workshops on disaster planning for the Los Angeles area. It has also created a comprehensive list of local disaster services, supplies, and suppliers. The Web site provides resources for disaster preparedness, preservation planning, and response and recovery.
Contact: Christopher Coleman
San Diego/Imperial County Libraries Disaster Response Network (SILDRN)
https://sites.google.com/site/sildrn/
SILDRN is a regional cooperative organization. Its purpose is to provide mutual aid in preparing for and coping with disasters affecting libraries and their collections. The Web site includes planning, recovery and supplier information, and mutual aid agreements. The Network has regional disaster supply containers.
Contact: SILDRN
Oregon
Disaster Response Group (DIRG)/Oregon Library Association Preservation Round Table
http://sites.google.com/site/disasterresponsegroup
The Disaster Response Group (DIRG) is a cooperative disaster planning and response group consisting of representatives from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions within the greater Portland, Oregon area. The mission of DIRG is to provide education, support, and resources for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery for libraries and archives in our region. The Web site provides documents and resources for aiding in emergency preparedness.
Contact: Robyn Ward
Washington
Seattle Heritage Emergency Response Network (SHERN)
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Seattle
The Seattle Heritage Emergency Response Network (SHERN) helps archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and other heritage organizations in Seattle to respond to emergencies and disasters affecting cultural resources and collections. Members help each other by providing advice, support and/or actual recovery assistance. Membership in the Network constitutes a commitment by an organization to make disaster preparedness and staff training an administrative priority.
Contact: Gary Menges
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
MOUNTAIN PLAINS REGION
Colorado
Denver Alliance for Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Denver
The Denver Alliance for Response network plans to create a local listserv, participate in the Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership, and develop a tabletop exercise in cooperation with the Denver Office of Emergency Management
Contact: Leigh Grinstead
Kansas
Kansas Cultural Heritage Emergency Resources Network
http://kansaschern.wordpress.com
The Kansas Cultural Heritage Emergency Resources Network is a website to aid libraries, museums, historical societies and any cultural heritage institution in preparing for and recovering from various disasters. This statewide resource guide is a replacement for KDRAN (Kansas Disaster Recovery Assistance Network, 1993-2009) in providing valuable annotated resources.
Contact: KansasCHERN
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
MIDWEST REGION
Michigan
Michigan Alliance for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
http://macch.org
The Michigan Alliance for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (MACCH) is a statewide nonprofit organization composed of libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and preservation networks. Its purpose is to promote the protection and preservation of Michigan ’s cultural and humanities resources for the enjoyment, education and benefit of present and future generations. Cultural resources include archival materials, records, objects, artifacts of everyday life, historic sites, buildings and landscapes held privately or publicly or collected by libraries, archives and museums. The website provides information on disaster preparedness and response, and information about MACCH’s Angel Projects and the Michigan Heritage Guardian Award.
Contact: Katie Nelson
Ohio
Ohio Alliance for Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Ohio
The Northeast Ohio Alliance for Response is an organization of individuals from non-profit cultural institutions and allied professionals that provides planned events and opportunities for education and outreach. It also shares information to its members and the community in support of disaster preparedness.
Contact: Ann Olszewski
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
New York
New York City Alliance for Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/NewYorkCity
Alliance for Response, NYC is a local organization focused on connecting emergency responders with representatives of the cultural heritage community. Our goal is to strengthen mitigation and response capabilities through training exercises, development of local planning efforts and improved dialogue and partnerships. The organization is composed of staff from cultural institutions (security, facilities, health/safety, collections/conservation, and administration), first responders (NYPD, FDNY, OEM, FEMA) and related industries (insurance/risk management, recovery companies).
Contact: Lisa Elkin
Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania Alliance for Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/CentralPA
Central Pennsylvania Alliance for Response provides a forum for information, cooperation, and communication among emergency management organizations, first responders, and cultural heritage institutions in the Central Pennsylvania region. Our aim is to foster a cooperative approach to disaster preparedness, emergency management, and cultural heritage protection.
Contact: Tom Clareson
Philadelphia Alliance for Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Philadelphia/index.html
Philadelphia Alliance for Response is a network of archive, library, museum, and emergency management representatives resulting from an Alliance for Response Forum in June 2007. Meetings educate the group on mutual aid agreements, fire department inspections, continuity of operations planning, and similar topics. The network is forging strong links to the city emergency management agency.
Contact: Tom Clareson
Pittsburgh Alliance for Response
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Pittsburgh
The Alliance for Response Pittsburgh initiative provides a forum for information, cooperation, and communication among emergency management organizations, first responders, and cultural heritage institutions in the greater Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Our aim is to foster a cooperative approach to disaster preparedness, emergency management, and cultural heritage protection.
Contact: John Barnett
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
SOUTHEAST REGION
Georgia
Heritage Emergency Response Alliance (HERA)
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Atlanta/index.html
HERA is an affiliation of institutions and persons interested in preserving the cultural heritage within the Metro Atlanta area and serving as a resource to cultural institutions around the state. HERA aims to enhance disaster preparedness through networking, information sharing, increased awareness and encouragement of disaster planning, and training.
Contact: HERA
Savannah Heritage Emergency Response (SHER)
http://sheronline.info/
SHER shall exist to promote and facilitate the emergency preparedness and emergency response of the natural, cultural and historical community throughout Chatham County with respect to the potential exposure and or threat of major emergencies and disasters both natural and/or manmade.
Contact: Beth Reiter
North Carolina
Mountain Area Cultural Resources Emergency Network (MACREN)
MACREN is a resource-sharing network for cultural institutions in the Asheville area of Western North Carolina. Members include national parks, state and private historic sites and museums, and state, public, and church archives. MACREN assists members in managing and mitigating collections-related emergencies. It provides personnel, expertise, and supplies, and acts as a regional leader in collections preservation and disaster preparedness and awareness.
Contact: Jeff Futch, 828-274-6789
Triangle Area Cultural Resources Emergency Network (TACREN)
http://www.ncpreservation.org/TACREN.html
TACREN is a network of institutions and individuals who pledge to work together to protect the cultural heritage of the Triangle area (Wake-Durham-Orange counties) by providing disaster response assistance and/or support for one another. Members of TACREN also provide support to area cultural organizations in disaster planning, disaster response, and building relationships with area first responders.
Contact: Sarah Koontz
South Carolina
Charleston Archives, Libraries, and Museums (CALM)
http://calm-sc.blogspot.com
CALM is a network of preservation professionals living and working in the Charleston, South Carolina, area. They hold periodic disaster training workshops for professionals, as well as share information, expertise, and supplies with various organizations in their region. Nonmembers may also benefit from the network.
Contact: CALM
Palmetto Archives, Libraries, and Museums Council on Preservation (PALMCOP)
http://palmcop.org
PALMCOP is a non-profit organization and its membership consists of individuals and institutions from across South Carolina, representing archives, libraries, museums, historical societies, and anyone else who is dedicated to preserving information in all its formats. PALMCOP provides its members with help in preserving collections through its web site, periodic workshops, and site visits in an emergency.
Contact: DebbieLee Landi
Virginia
Virginia Museum Emergency Support Teams (VAMEST)
http://www.vamest.org
VAMEST is one component of an emergency response structure created by the Virginia Association of Museums. These regional teams cooperate on planning efforts and receive training to assist neighboring institutions during emergencies. A statewide response team can provide additional triage and salvage assistance.
Contact: Margo Carlock
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
NORTHEAST REGION
Connecticut
Coordinated Statewide Emergency Preparedness: Connecticut (COSTEP CT)
http://costep.cslib.org
The goal of COSTEP CT is to encourage communication between cultural resource organizations and emergency responders in order to facilitate the preservation of cultural resources in the event of an emergency and to help cultural resource organizations be of help to the community in the event of an emergency. They are working to create and maintain a statewide disaster framework regarding preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
Contact: Kathy Craughwell-Varda
Massachusetts
Coordinated Statewide Emergency Preparedness: Massachusetts (COSTEP MA)
http://costepma.groupieguide.com
COSTEP MA consists of nearly 50 members from numerous state agencies, museums, libraries, archives, historical societies, and local, state, and federal emergency management agencies. Quarterly meetings ensure an ongoing dialogue that promotes mutual understanding and coordination between stewards of cultural heritage and emergency managers. Current activities include the creation of by-laws to provide a permanent administrative structure for COSTEP MA and the facilitation of community meetings to strengthen local relationships among key personnel from the cultural, municipal, and emergency management sectors.
Contact: Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Coordinated Statewide Emergency Preparedness: Rhode Island (COSTEP RI)
http://www.olis.ri.gov/grants/c2c/
With funding from an IMLS Connecting to Collections grant, Rhode Island plans to build and sustain alliances for communication and collaboration between the cultural heritage community and the emergency management community to prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from events that may adversely impact the cultural resources of the state. Working in conjunction with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, they will co-sponsor an operations-based disaster exercise that will include a coordinated state response to one or more heritage collection institutions.
Contact: Donna Longo DiMichele
Vermont
Vermont Emergency Response Team for Cultural Institutions (VERTCI)
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/AfR/Vermont
The 2009 Vermont Alliance for Response Forum revived interest in the pre-established Vermont Emergency Response Team for Cultural Institutions (VERTCI). Team members and new recruits have received training to better prepare them to aid Vermont institutions during emergencies.
Contact: Jackie Calder
*If you know of a disaster assistance network that should be listed here, please send information about it to the Task Force.
