Need immediate emergency assistance with cultural materials?
First, contact CHR Response and Recovery by emailing from the form on our web site www.chrtaskforce.com. This group includes three National Heritage Responders and persons with specialized emergency training around the state.
Next, if CHR does not respond quickly enough, contact the AIC/FAIC National Heritage Responder hotline:
Cultural Institutions call: (202) 661-8068
Individuals email: NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org
Be prepared before disaster strikes!
To prepare your cultural institution for emergencies, take the following actions:
Write or update a disaster plan that includes response for collections
Make sure all staff know the first steps to take when an emergency arises
Compile an up-to-date telephone list for staff, including home and cell numbers
Be prepared to handle the most likely threats, based on the past history of the building and location
Train staff in-house or by having them attend a disaster preparedness workshop
Resources
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Risk Evaluation: First Step in Disaster Planning
Free webinar series on AIC/FAIC YouTube channel. By identifying the hazards that threaten your collections and assessing the risks they pose, you are taking the first step in disaster planning.
Risk Evaluation and Planning Program
The REPP program was developed as a toolkit to help cultural institutions identify and prepare for risks to their site(s) using worksheets.
Fire Risk Management Guide: Protecting Cultural and Natural Heritage from Fire
UNESCO book publication, 2024. Free, open access, downloadable, or scrollable online.
Protecting Your Collections: Writing a Disaster Response Plan
Free webinar series on AIC/FAIC YouTube channel. Includes all the documents (pdfs) for each webinar, a link to each archived session, and a base set of template documents that can be downloaded and edited.
Pocket Response Resource and dPlan|Arts Ready
dPlan|ArtsReadyis a subscription-based comprehensive online tool for disaster preparedness and response, designed with arts and cultural organizations in mind.
Sample Pocket Response Plans (PReP) for collections
Several sample plans (pdf) from different types of cultural institutions. Used with permission. Click here for a Colorado PReP template in Word to download. Opens a google doc, go to File, Download as .doc for Word. A few fields applicable to Colorado are filled in. Edit to suit your organization’s specific needs.
Exercising Your Disaster Response Plan
Free webinar on AIC/FAIC YouTube channel.
Fact Sheet on Art and Culture: Helping People Before, During and After Disasters
2024 FEMA publication covering a variety of relevant topics. Additional resources listed at end of publication. Downloadable PDF.
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Response and Recovery Resources
The Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative and the Heritage Emergency Task Force (HENTF) provide extensive resource materials to help those in the U.S. and abroad be fully prepared for disaster risk management and emergency response.
Salvage at a Glance and Salvage of Water Damaged Collections
Detailed salvage procedures for treatment of many different types of cultural materials. Use these together for quick reference determining what materials can be safely frozen to prevent additional damage. Consult a conservator whenever possible, especially with unique, rare or archival collections, for specific treatment options.
National Heritage Responders (NHR) respond to the needs of cultural institutions and the public during emergencies and disasters through coordinated efforts with first responders, state agencies, vendors, and the public. NHR provides extensive Tip Sheets with guidance to help with collections evacuation, working with recovery companies, drying wet collections, mold, long term recovery, and more recovery-related subjects
Three AIC/FAIC YouTube videos on health & safety; object; and book and paper salvage after a fire.
Field Guide to Emergency Response
AIC/FAIC practical guide which includes forms and videos on emergency response.
AIC /FAIC site which provides a search function to be able to connect with a professional conservator (AIC members) by region and specialty, including for recovery in an emergency.
National Archives resources.
Emergency Preparedness for Museum Collections
National Park Service videos on YouTube.
What you should know about selecting and working with recovery companies.
Working with Recovery Vendors —An archived webinar
Webinar available to help with decision-making and resources.
Performing Arts Readiness (PAR)
Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) supports a large variety of programs to help performing arts organizations and artists be prepared for emergencies and crises.
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Colorado State Preservation Plan, History Colorado
State of Colorado Emergency Operations Plan, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM)
Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan (E-SHMP), Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
CSU Extension toolkit tailored for large, specific emergencies (linked example is Larimer County wildfire, 2024).
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IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS) (Free Online Training)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)IS-700.A: Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) (Free Online Training)
FEMAIS-393.B: Introduction to Hazard Mitigation (Free Online Training)
FEMAEmergency Support Function #11 – Protection of Natural & Cultural Resources and Historic Properties (ESF #11 NCH)
U.S. Department of the InteriorNatural and Cultural Resources Recovery Support Function
U.S. Department of the Interior -
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Colorado Emergency Management blog (Daily Update) DHSEM
Colorado Resiliency Framework DOLA
Fire and Smoke Map AirNow and others
InciWeb Interagency all-risk incident information management system. Distinguishes between wildfire and controlled burns. Additional links for each incident.