Disaster Relief Resources

The Smithsonian's Culture Rescue Initiative has a list of resources to assist in disaster relief.  Here are a few resources to assist collectors of artworks.  The list is both helpful to individuals and institutions. The full list is found here.

The ERS: Emergency Response and Salvage app out­lines critical stages of disaster response and provides prac­tical salvage tips for nine types of objects, from photo­graphs to textiles to furniture. Available free of charge for Apple, Android, and BlackBerry devices. Based on the original Wheel (see next entry). (Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation)
Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel, a slide chart that contains action steps on one side and salvage steps on the other. Also available in Spanish. (Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation)
A 10-minute video, “Water Segment from the Field Guide to Emergency Response,” demonstrates how to rescue soaked photographs, books, documents, and other valued items.  (Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation)
What To Do If Collections Get Wet (for collecting institutions). Covers first actions, how to air dry collections, freezing materials, dealing with mold and smoke and soot, and dealing with other contamination. Includes a response video. (Library of Congress)
Conserve O Grams. Short, focused leaflets about caring for museum objects. See Section 21 on Disaster Response and Recovery, especially the “Salvage at a Glance” series. (Museum Management Program, National Park Service, Department of the Interior)
Records Emergency Information. How to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies affecting governmental and cultural property records. (National Archives and Records Administration)
Records Recovery Vendors. Contact information for companies experienced in recovering collection materials. Note caveats and disclaimers. (National Archives and Records Administration)
Disaster Recovery for Films in Flooded Areas. Practical and useful information on recovering film after a flood. (Association of Moving Image Archivists)
The Foundation of the American Institute for Conserva­tion’s emergency response team, the National Heritage Responders, offers a free 24/7 emer­gency hotline that provides guidance to cultural institutions on the salvage of collections: 202-661-8068
Find a Conservator. If a valuable or important item is badly damaged or has been exposed to contaminated water, a professional conservator may be able to help salvage it. Identify and locate professional conservation services using this tool. (American Institute for Conservation)
Preparation and Recovery: After a Flood. A checklist for beginning to restore your home. (National Flood Insurance Program)
ArtsReady provides Useful Links to guidance and aid for artists and arts organizations. Scroll down to the Recovery heading.
The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) provides Disaster and Emergency Resources, technical bulletins that address disaster recovery needs integral to operating any collection-holding institution.