Emergency, Disaster, Conservation & Prevention Management

Federal Resources

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): This is the web site of the Federal government's emergency response agency.
Heritage Emergency National Task Force: Formed in 1995, the Task Force is a partnership of 36 federal agencies and national service organizations which helps archives, museums, historical societies and historic sites to protect themselves from natural disasters and emergencies. It provides expert information on response and salvage, an Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel (a FEMA tool regarding disaster and recovery guidance), direct web links to disaster preparedness and response information, and Resources for Recovery: Financial Aid for Cultural Institutions (booklet regarding federal grant and loan preservation programs. The Field Guide to Emergency Readiness and Response is a notebook designed for use in the aftermath of a disaster.
Preservation and Archives Professionals: NARA is tasked with preserving the historical record of our government, and therefore is a repository of many useful preservation and conservation resources covering a wide range of topics including record management, disaster preparedness, digital technology, deacidification, water damage, fire damage, magnetic media, mold prevention, solvent solver, and much more.
Ready: This is Homeland Security's site providing information regarding planning for an emergency and emergency kits.

Library, Archives & Museum Preservation Resources

Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA): CCAHA specializes in the treatment of works of art and artifacts on paper, such as drawings, prints, maps, posters, historic wallpaper, photographs, rare books, scrapbooks, and manuscripts, as well as related materials such as parchment and papyrus. CCAHA is one of the largest regional conservation laboratories in the U.S. and offers on site consultation services, educational programs and seminars, internships, and emergency conservation services. Access the periodical, Artifacts and technical bulletins.
Conservation Online (CoOL): Use this site to access links to information about and resources for conservation and preservation of paper, books, art, cultural objects, and historical sites.
The Getty Conservation Institute GCI): GCI conducts research in the development of conservation approaches that can slow the deterioration of materials and prevent further damage with an emphasis on applicability. The institute provides an online site with resources which includes a link to AATA Online (a database of conservation literature abstracts), Project Bibliographies, (a database of bibliographies produced as part of the GCI's conservation projects), information on the holdings of the Research Library at the Getty, and cultural heritage policy documents which include charters, conventions, and recommendations that represent the chronological development of cultural policy since the late 19th century. In addition, PDF files of the institute's publications are available on the site, as is the institute's newsletters. Conservation publications and videos can be purchased through the site. The list of links to other online conservation sites is fairly comprehensive and easy to follow.
Los Angeles Preservation Network: This site provides guidelines for setting collection priorities, guidelines for establishing disaster response and recovery team responsibilities, guidelines for diverse photographic collection preservation, guidelines for preparing key steps in disaster preparedness, recovery guidelines, guidelines for the planning process, guidelines for rehabilitation, a list of disaster supplies and suppliers, a bibliography; and a list of LAPNet organizations.
Northeast Document Conservation Center: The largest non-profit regional conservation center in the U. S., this organization provides disaster assistance, funding resources information, educational workshops (including its School for Scanning), survey guides, online full-text preservation manuals, a digital preservation handbook (manual and handbook are online), and specialized preservation expertise. Services include paper, book, and photograph conservation, duplication of photographs, and microfilming on a fee-for-service basis.
SOLINET: This regional (southeastern U. S.) and national network of libraries offers many resources including consulting services for library management, operations, and design, technology planning, grant writing, pest control, preservation needs assessment, conservation and reformatting, database licensing, and more. SOLINET offers a range of classes, including preservation, which is listed on the site. The Publications page lists SOLINET publications covering collections care, disaster planning, environment, reformatting and digital; many of the titles are available through links to PDF or html online files. To contact a SOLINET staff person with a particular expertise, search the Staff by Topic directory which provides names and contact information. A Staff Directory by Name is also available.

Non-Government Organizations

American Red Cross: This is the web site for the American chapter of the worldwide emergency response organization.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: This site offers information sheets regarding steps to take for saving historic buildings, sacred sites, battlefields, maritime preservation, and an introduction to preservation easements which protect against undesirable development or indirect deterioration and may provide the most effective legal tool for the protection of privately-owned historic properties.

Other Resources

e-PRESERVATIONscience: e-PRESERVATIONscience is an European e-journal of papers, announcement, and news about materials research covering the topics of conservation and preservation science. Its goal is to publish materials within 8 weeks of submission.
Havaria Emergency and Disaster Information Services Alert Map: This site from Budapest, Hungary visually tracks disaster alerts worldwide from Avian flu outbreaks to volcanic eruptions and terrorist attacks.

Security Resources

Canada-United States Cargo Security Project: The purpose of this project is to provide a rapidly assembled prototype test-bed for elements of cargo container supply chain security.

State Resources

California Preservation Program: This site provides a disaster plan workbook, a disaster plan template, disaster resources, a disaster plan exercise, training tools on handling books, pest management, book repair, etc., and a list of California resources and contacts.
State Offices and Agencies of Emergency Management: This page provides FEMA's list of State Offices and Agencies of Emergency Management.