Disaster Assistance

TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE

24/7 Collections Emergency Hotline: 1-855-245-8303

NEDCC staff members are available 24/7 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 include on-site assistance.

National Heritage Responders: 1-202-661-8068

The American Institute for Conservation’s National Heritage Responders (NHR) is a highly skilled team of conservators and other collections care professionals with expertise in emergency response. NHR members provide advice and on-site response to institutions via the hotline number listed above. All assistance provided by the NHR is free. Less urgent questions can also be answered by emailing [email protected]. Individuals and the general public should email [email protected] for advice. 

On-site Assistance

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:  

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners: 1-800-952-7403, x236

For Massachusetts public libraries only. MBLC staff is available to provide information, advice, and assessment either by telephone or on-site visit.

National Heritage Responders: 1-202-661-8068

The American Institute for Conservation’s National Heritage Responders (NHR) is a highly skilled team of conservators and other collections care professionals with expertise in emergency response. NHR members are available to provide advice to individuals as well as advice and on-site response to institutions. (NHR members do not normally provide on-site assistance to individuals, although it may be possible to do so in conjunction with other collections in an affected region.) All assistance provided by the NHR is free.

Online RESOURCES 

Disaster Response and Recovery Resources

Fire Damage

• After the Fire: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures – fact sheet from the Heritage Emergency National Task Force.
• How to Handle and Clean Soot-Damaged Items– 7-minute video from the American Institute for Conservation.
• Vacuuming Moldy Books and Paper – 3-minute video available on NEDCC’s YouTube channel.
  

Water Damage

• After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures – fact sheet from the Heritage Emergency National Task Force.
• Emergency Salvage Procedures for Wet Items – reference sheets from the Minnesota Historical Society that include handling precautions, tips for prioritizing, and a list of supplies needed for drying over twenty types of wet items.
• Field Guide to Emergency Response –videos demonstrating salvage techniques. Created by Heritage Preservation and hosted on YouTube by the American Institute for Conservation.
• NEDCC Preservation Leaflets – technical leaflets on emergency response and recovery.
  • Emergency Salvage of Wet Books and Records
  • Emergency Salvage of Wet Photographs
  • Emergency Salvage of Moldy Books and Paper
  • Freezing and Drying Wet Books and Records
• Salvage at a Glance – an easy-to-use reference chart listing response actions for a wide range of wet collection formats. From Connecting to Collections.
• Salvaging CDs and DVDs – from NARA.
• Salvaging VHS tapes and other magnetic media – from Specs Bros., LLC
• Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms – fact sheet from the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, also available in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, and Mandarin.

Other Topics

• Alliance for Response Networks – check to see if your area has an Alliance for Response (AFR) for mutual aid and emergency assistance at the local level.
• Conservation Services – the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) provides a How to Choose a Conservator guide that explains how to work with a professional conservator, as well as a Find a Professional directory to help you identify conservators in your area.
• Disinfecting Books and Other Collections – NEDCC Preservation Leaflet in HTMLand PDF, as well as a video on NEDCC’s YouTube Channel.
• Hazardous Materials following a Disaster – 7-minute video from the American Institute for Conservation.
• How Do I Start My Flood Claim? – from FEMA

Preparedness Resources

Emergency Planning

• A Guide to Risk Management of Cultural Heritage – a good guide for formal disaster planning. From ICCROM.
•  - a comprehensive online tool for disaster preparedness and response, designed with arts and cultural organizations in mind. The tool includes resources for response and recovery, guided risk assessments, storage for critical files, easy access online and via mobile phone, and affordable annual subscription rates.
• NEDCC Preservation Leaflets – technical leaflets on emergency preparedness topics.
  • Emergency Planning
  • Worksheet for Outlining an Emergency Response Plan
• “Ready-Or Not” Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project– funded by the State of California, NEDCC emergency preparedness consultants conduct free site visits for California organizations stewarding cultural resources and then deliver a report with recommendations for mitigating risks, taking emergency preparedness actions, and completing a disaster plan.

Flood Preparedness

• USGS Water Watch – includes a national map of flood and high flow conditions with the ability to drill down to the state and local level for flood tracking. 

Hurricane Preparedness

• Hurricane Season 2020 Readiness Webinar– learn more about the hazards posed by tropical storms and hurricanes, particularly in southern New England; how to evaluate hurricane-related threats to your facilities; and the process of constructing a mitigation plan. From NWS Boston Lead Meteorologist Matthew Belk.
• Hurricanes – resources from Ready.gov for personal safety before, during, and after a hurricane. Available in English and 12 other languages.
• National Hurricane Center – real-time information on current and developing tropical disturbances.
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center – issues forecasts for hurricane seasons, for example, this forecast for 2022 in the Atlantic.

Wildfire Preparedness

• Evacuating Collections: What You Should Know – a 2-page tip sheet from the National Heritage Responders
• Map of active fires – from the National Interagency Fire Center. 

Other Topics

• NEDCC Preservation Leaflets – technical leaflets on emergency preparedness topics.
  • Protection from Loss: Water and Fire Damage, Biological Agents, Theft, and Vandalism
  • Introduction to Fire Detection and Automatic Sprinklers for Cultural Heritage
  • Protecting Collections During Renovation
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Collections Security: Planning and Prevention for Cultural Heritage Institutions
• NEDCC Preservation Training – free, for-fee, and on-demand webinars on topics that include emergency preparedness. Visit the Current Training Programs page for descriptions and registration.
  
  

NEDCC is grateful for support from the National Endowment for the Humanities for its collections emergency hotline, training programs, outreach activities, and web resources.

 


(Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these resources do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.)