Preserving the Collection: Disaster Planning, Response & Recovery

From prioritizing items or determining where they would go ahead of a fire to storing items above floodlines and installing extra protections around bases of large objects in earthquake-prone areas, there are practical methods for curators and collections managers to help prevent damage to their collections.   https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/article-as-climate-disasters-come-to-museums-doorsteps-curators-decide-what-to/

  These two articles by J. Andrew Wilson and Tom Goonan highlight steps that can be taken to prevent fire in your collection, limit its effects, and protect lives. The "Special Challenges" article in particular discusses buildings that were not originally intended for records storage, and includes summaries of several real responses to fire.   Fire Protection in Cultural Institutions: https://www.archives.gov/preservation/emergency-prep/fire-prevention.html   Special Challenges - Fire and Fire Suppression: https://www.archives.gov/preservation/emergency-prep/special-challenges

  Join TX-CERA and the Texas Historical Commission for a free webinar on Thursday, May 26 at 10 am CST! Weathering the Storm: 2022 Hurricane Preparations for Cultural Institutions Speakers: Dan Reilly, National Weather Service Rebecca Kennedy, Curae Collections Care LLC Rik Chapman, American Red Cross As hurricane season begins, it’s time for cultural institutions to review their preparation and response plans. In this free webinar, you'll learn about this year's weather forecast, how to conduct a collections risk assessment, and how the Red Cross manages deployments to disaster areas. To register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8733342117460520460

  TX-CERA has two upcoming free webinars in May and June. First, on May 26, 10-11am CST, join us for Weathering the Storm: 2022 Hurricane Preparations for Cultural Institutions. Speakers include Dan Reilly, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at National Weather Service Houston/Galveston; Rebecca Kennedy, Collections Care Specialist with Curae Collections Care LLC; and Rik Chapman, Spokesperson for the American Red Cross. To register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8733342117460520460 Second, on June 7, 10-11am CST, join us for Understanding and Upgrading Your Collection Preservation Environment. Speakers Jimmy Hensel and John Stevenson will discuss the basics of HVAC systems, how to identify problems, and how to advocate for upgrades. To register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4685539537494277132 Texas residents, if you are interested in becoming a Texas Heritage Responder, TX-CERA will be hosting an online course in June and July, which will be concluded wi...

  We normally talk about emergency situations - for example, flooding and fire events - but some challenges in those situations can start slowly. Using archival materials and ensuring that your collection is packed and stored properly can make a huge difference in the long term. The Western Australian Museum on Storage Materials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI2LYyAyIPw

  We are in the middle of hurricane preparedness week! Now is a great time to replenish emergency supplies and review your emergency plan - for both your collection and yourself. https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep

Become a Texas Heritage Responder (THR), an affiliate of TX-CERA. During this 8-week course, participants will focus on how to prepare, respond, and recover from emergencies that threaten Texas cultural heritage institutions. This certificate program is for Texas residents and will conclude with a full-day workshop at Texas A&M University, College Station. Join Us As We Discuss: The Power of Partnerships The Incident Command System and working with Offices of Emergency Management Risk Assessment and Hazard Mitigation Health and Safety Preparation and Deployment Triage and Salvage Registration Begins: Sunday, May 1, 2022 ( Register Here ) Online Course: Monday, June 6 - Friday, July 22, 2022 In-Person Workshop: Friday, August 5, 2022 This course was made possible by the generous support of the American Institute for Conservation, Belfor Property Restoration, the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., The Project Group, and Texas...