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Emergency Preparedness Resources
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts FREE Webinar
Wet Salvage for Home and Community Collections
November 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m. (AZ)
Through a combination of presentation, video demonstrations, and discussion, learn how to salvage collections items that are typically found in home and community collections, like books, coated paper (such as magazines and other glossy media), and 20th century photographic materials, in the event of a water emergency.
International Foundation for Cultural Property Webinar
Collections Management and Security: A Look into The National WWII Museum's Protection Procedures
November 5, 2027, 12:00 p.m. (AZ)
The webinar will explore the various ways security protocols can aid in the preservation and protection of the Museum’s varied artifacts. From tanks to teacups Collections Managers and Security Officers oversea a large and diverse collection that requires good communication, access procedures, emergency management planning, and coordination. We’ll explore topics from bad visitor behavior, to firearms protocols.
Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York Online Course (FREE)
Writing an Emergency Plan for Collecting Institutions
November 9-20, 2026
This online course will prepare participants to create a clear, practical emergency plan for their organization. Participants will learn how to take identified collection risks and translate them into actionable response procedures. Emphasis will be placed on working in manageable phases rather than tackling the entire plan at once. The course introduces the Council of State Archivists’ Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™) as a starting point and builds toward developing a comprehensive emergency plan that includes response, salvage, and recovery procedures.
Foundation for Advancement in Conservaiton Architecture Specialty Group Webinar ($20)
Engineering a Response: The Role of Engineers, Contractors, and Stewards in Disaster Recovery for Historic Buildings
November 12 , 2026, 10:00 a.m. (AZ)
Speaker Donald Friedman, PE, will explore how engineers, specialized contractors, and building and collection stewards can work together to assess disaster-related damage to historic buildings, establish recovery priorities, and support informed decision-making.
International Foundation For Cultural Property Protection Annual Conference
April 10–14, 2027
Baltimore, Maryland
Texas Historical Commission Museum Services On-Demand Webinar
Beyond Prevention: The Value of Fire Hardening Cultural Sites
Learn how proactive measures, such as defensible landscaping, can significantly reduce the risk of loss and prevent costly post-disaster recovery and restoration. By prioritizing resilience, museum leaders can better protect their communities in the face of evolving fire threats.
Arizona Emergency Resources
Arizona Alliance for Response (AZ-AFR)
State of Arizona Hazard Mitigation Plan
National Heritage Responders
The 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.
Emergency Response and Salvage Mobile App
Foundation for the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC) Emergency Preparedness & Salvage Wheel includes simple steps to prep your institution for emergencies and learn to salvage by material type.
Pocket Response Plan (PReP) Templates
The Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™) is a concise document for recording essential information needed by staff in case of a disaster or other emergency. Every person having a response-related assignment should carry a PReP with them at all times.
Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative Resources
The Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative and the Heritage Emergency Task Force (HENTF) share materials to help those in the U.S. and abroad be fully prepared in all aspects of disaster risk management and emergency response.
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan (American Alliance of Museums)
Integrating Historic Property and Cultural Resource Considerations into Hazard Mitigation Planning: State and Local Mitigation Planning How-To Guide. (2005, Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Guide to Expanding Mitigation: Making the Connection with Arts and Culture (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Disaster Planning and Risk Management Resources (American Alliance of Museums)
Disaster Planning and Recovery Resources (American Association for State and Local History)
Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Resources (Western Museums Association)
Disaster Response and Recovery Guides (Foundation for Advancement in Conservation)
Members of the National Heritage Responders have developed these brief Tip Sheets to help collecting institutions respond to and recover from events. Topics include smoke and soot, mold, drying wet collections and buildings, health and safety, and more.
Records Emergencies Guides (National Archives and Records Administration)
NARA has developed resources to help federal agencies, as well as state, local and tribal authorities, and others to prepare for and manage records emergencies. There are also links to useful resources from other agencies and organizations.
National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives
In the event of a natural disaster impacting your repository, the SAA Foundation's National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives (NDRFA) is available to provide critical assistance. With grants of up to $5,000 available for immediate recovery efforts, the NDRFA offers a lifeline to help you navigate the challenging aftermath of a disaster. Applications are processed quickly, with grants typically awarded within 7–10 business days.
Identifying and Mitigating Nonprofit Risk with a Six-Step Crisis Communication Plan
Katherine Kerr Kubatzky, Blue Avocado December 5, 2022
It is tempting to get into false thinking that nothing bad can happen to your organization. Doing so leaves you unprepared to communicate in a crisis. Every nonprofit has the same probability of experiencing situations, such as accidents or disasters, that can evolve into crises without proper planning. The Solution: First assess the risks that your nonprofit faces. Then, using the six steps in this article, develop a crisis communications plan and train key roles in your nonprofit on their role and responsibility. With a plan and training in place, your nonprofit can withstand the worst and continue fulfilling its mission.
Cultural Heritage Emergency Preparedness and Response: Guidelines for the OEHS Professional
American Industrial Hygiene Association Museum Working Group (2023)
This white paper introduces OEHS professionals to the risk management needs of CH organizations, and to their well-established, nationwide organizations of CH professionals trained in cultural heritage emergency preparedness and response. It highlights the important collaboration of OEHS and CH professionals to integrate OEHS into their emergency management planning, training, and response. For CH organizations, this white paper introduces the knowledge, skills and abilities OEHS professionals provide in supporting the development and sustainment of their emergency response plans.
A Primer for Disaster Recovery Planning in an IT Environment
Charlotte J. Hiatt (IGI Global, 2011)
Disaster Preparedness and Response (Americans for the Arts)
Includes information in three sections: Be Prepared; Resources; and Natural Disaster Community Projects and Engagement
Tabletop Exercises for Cultural Institutions: A Disaster Plan Tool for Libraries, Archives and Museums
David Carmichael (2023, Lulu)
Implementing the Incident Command System at the Institutional Level: A Handbook for Libraries, Archives, Museums and other Cultural Institutions
David Carmichael (2010, Heritage Preservation)