Washington, DC—A new collection of handy tools designed especially for libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, and historic preservation and arts organizations has been released by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force. The tools are the result of the Task Force’s “Lessons Applied” initiative to develop practical applications for the lessons from Hurricane Katrina and other major storms, such as helping cultural institutions apply for disaster aid and developing relationships with emergency responders. During the past year, panels composed of Task Force members have developed solutions in five issue areas: incentives for preparedness, working with first responders, effective regional response, funding, and coordination among service organizations.

The new tools are available as free downloads at www.heritageemergency.org:

• New tools are posted here to aid libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, and historic preservation and arts organizations in disaster preparedness and recovery.
• MayDay is an annual event that encourages cultural institutions to undertake one simple emergency preparedness task. Suggested MayDay activities and promotional materials are available online.
• Tips for Working with Emergency Responders. This handy sheet tells how to find and build relationships with local emergency responders, as well as what responders need to know to better protect cultural institutions.
• Guide to Navigating FEMA and SBA Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions. This concise Web site leads cultural institutions through the process of applying to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance after major disasters. Links put necessary paperwork at the user’s fingertips.
• Recommended Professional Emergency Management Training. The free courses listed in this resource teach cultural heritage staff and volunteer teams about local, state, and federal disaster response frameworks already in place, as well as standard protocols and terminology.

“Lessons Applied” is a project of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, co-sponsored by Heritage Preservation and FEMA. This initiative was made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Bay and Paul Foundations.

AAAM is a proud member of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of 41 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. The Task Force was founded in 1995 and is co-sponsored by Heritage Preservation and FEMA.