Preparing for disasters and potential harm to library and archival collections is an important aspect of collections management. While archivists and others maintain disaster plans and may occasionally need to respond to isolated leaks, minor flooding, and various pest infestations, there are times when major events occur and remind us of the tremendous power of nature and the vulnerability of our cultural collections. In recent years in Texas, Hurricane Harvey raised awareness about the urgency of disaster planning and response. Lately, the Central Texas flooding on July 4 once again brought to light the great power of water.
While life and safety are paramount, there may also be a need to recover books, paper, media, and other materials from damage. The Texas Historical Records Advisory Board (THRAB) provides resources online to assist with the planning and response process. We are including here in this post recordings of two webinar series on this topic with handouts available for download where available.
Creating an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan Webinar Series 2020
Rebecca Elder, Elder Preservation, THRAB 2020
Part 1: Emergency Planning Basics and the Emergency Team
[ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 2: Risk Assessment and Choosing a Plan Template
[ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 3: Contact Lists and Salvage Priorities
[ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 4: Procedures, Supplies and Implementation
[ Recording | Handout packet ]
Part 5: How Did It Go?
[ Recording| Handout packet ]
Emergency Preparedness and Planning Series 2019
Rebecca Elder, Elder Preservation, THRAB 2019
Part 1: Emergency Preparedness: Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Fires, Oh My! Creating Your Emergency Preparedness Plan
[Recording]
Part 2: Emergency Response: Hurricanes, Tornadoes and Fires, Oh My! Responding to Your Emergency
[Recording]