Preserving the Collection: Disaster Planning, Response & Recovery

  Many of these wildfire resources compiled by NEDCC staff and a Train-the-Trainer cohort are aimed at institutions in or near California, but there are many links that can be beneficial to any individual or institution with a fire-damaged collection - particularly the sections on health and human safety, and collections recovery. https://public-media.secure.si.edu/filer/41/aa/41aa0e72-5b93-440e-bd08-77c1f6353208/2021-wildfire-resources.pdf

  In June 2021, TX-CERA and the Texas Heritage Commission partnered to present two webinars on obtaining insurance and filing a claim. These two webinars, along with many other excellent webinars on emergency situations for cultural heritage facilities, are hosted on the THC website: https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/museum-services/webinars Disaster Planning: Obtaining Insurance and Managing Risk ( https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/577742099056822019 ) Disaster Response: Insurance Claims and Collections Recovery ( https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7390431593632665872 )

  It's always good to look at success stories. This publication by ICCROM, "Success Stories from the Alliance for Cultural First Aid, Peace and Resilience Project", is a collection of the results from programs aimed at protecting, preserving, and providing first aid to cultural heritage in at-risk areas. https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/publications/2022-12/en_03_asoc3_far_interactive_version_iccrom_2022_web_compressed.pdf

  Housekeeping is an important aspect of damage prevention. Sometimes, disasters start small, and regular maintenance can keep it that way. For a detailed overview of cleaning methods, check out C2C Care Course Cleaning the Museum without Damage Webinar One: Introduction to cleaning methods ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frm7zfvDqcM ).

  It's always of utmost importance to consider your own health if you're called on to help salvage a collection after a natural disaster or structural damage to a building. While there are hazards we can see easily - wires, pests, broken glass, and so on - others may not be obvious. Many buildings constructed before the 1980s contain asbestos; once disturbed, microscopic asbestos particles travel through the air and can increase your chances of mesothelioma. These resources by The Mesothelioma Center guide you through the dangers of asbestos in natural disasters, and symptoms that may indicate mesothelioma. Asbestos and Natural Disasters Guide: https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/natural-disasters/ Mesothelioma Symptoms: https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms/

Natural history collections are rarely discussed when it comes to salvage. This video by the National Collections Program provides an excellent introduction for the salvage of various kinds of specimen: https://video.ibm.com/playlist/660167/video/132362735

Photogrammetry has become the answer to many questions, whether that question is how to easily track an object's status through conservation, how to share it with a wider audience, or how to make sure it endures through potential disasters. Technology that could only be afforded by few just a decade ago is becoming more and more widespread - and can be easily accessed on a tablet or smartphone. The last section of this manual by Portland Museum discusses using just your tablet to create a 3D model: https://simplebooklet.com/portlandmuseumvolunteermanual#page=35   This video shows you how to take phone or camera photos and use free computer software to do the same: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45D0pFdqVgw