Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

Disasters strike every area of the country, and they do not spare libraries. Planning for disaster any type or size of a disaster helps mitigate damage of your collections. The information presented here is meant as a general guide to planning, recovery, and seeking federal funding to aid in disaster response and recovery. The steps outlined here are based on current Federal policies, some of which are under review.

Planning and Prevention Resources

Click on Icons for direct links to Emergency Preparedness Programs

Additional Specific Program Links:

• FEMA: National Flood Insurance Program
• Ready.gov: 30 Emergency preparedness tips
• Red Cross: Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Guide
• Guide to Navigating Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions is meant as a general guide to seeking federal funding to aid in disaster response and recovery.
• CALpreservation.org Emergency Preparedness & Response
• The Disaster Mitigation Planning Assistance Website provides disaster plans submitted by other libraries and archives as a model for developing your own plan.
• dPlan: The Online Disaster-Planning Tool is a free Web-based fill-in-the-blank program for writing institutional disaster plan (designed to help institutions of all sizes).
• Conservation OnLine's Disaster preparedness and response
• 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.
• Heritage Health Index Full Report & Data on Libraries

Collection Valuation and Insurance

• The Preservation Division of the Library of Congress has many resources regarding emergency preparedness:
  • Risk Management
  • Insurance Evaluation links provide downloadable Excel files to calculate collection values.
• The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America website lists information on book values.
• The Smithsonian offers information on identifying a collection/object(s) worth.

Recovery and Response

• Heritage Emergency Programs: Need Help Now? Call: 202.661.8068
• Library of Congress: What to Do If Collections Get Wet
• Connecting to Collections: Informative webinars on funding sources and additional information:
  • Applying to NEH’s Preservation Assistance Grants
  • Funding for Collections Care

Click on Icons for direct links to Emergency Preparedness Programs

ALA has tried to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, however, it assumes no liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication.