Skip to Content

24 / 7 Collections Emergency Phone Assistance

disaster-header

FEMA / Dave Saville

NEDCC staff members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide telephone advice to institutions and individuals handling collection-related disasters. Information provided includes advice on drying wet collections and dealing with damage from fire, pests, and mold. This service does not normally include on-site assistance.

Call (978) 470-1010 

If calling after hours, you will be referred to a second telephone number to reach a staff member. Please note that email should not be used for emergency assistance since it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

This free service is made possible in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Quick Reference: Disaster Recovery Service Providers

Some disasters — such as those involving contaminated water or large mold outbreaks — are too large or complex for an institution or individual to handle alone. In these instances, NEDCC recommends working with a disaster remediation company experienced in handling cultural heritage collections. The following companies have expertise in this area, and can be reached around the clock:

Polygon
(800) 422-6379

Belfor
(800) 856-3333

BMS Cat
800-433-2940

FURTHER READING ON DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY FOR CULTURAL COLLECTIONS

Heritage Preservation

Heritage Preservation’s Heritage Emergency National Task Force website has a number of resources on disaster recovery, including state cultural and emergency contacts, response and recovery resources, and a damage reporting tool.

American Institute for Conservation (AIC)

The American Institute for Conservation – Collections Emergency Response Team (AIC-CERT) responds to the needs of cultural institutions during emergencies and disasters through coordinated efforts with first responders, state agencies, vendors and the public. Volunteers can provide advice and referrals by phone. Requests for onsite assistance will be forwarded by the volunteer to the AIC-CERT Coordinator and Project Director for response.

NEDCC PRESERVATION LEAFLETS

NEDCC has created Preservation Leaflets covering a number of emergency management topics, such as emergency salvage of wet books and records, wet photographs, moldy books and paper; integrated pest management; and freezing wet books and records. Click here for a list of available leaflets.