Doug, the Utah Museum Association put on a disaster training class.  Firemen,
Red Cross were speakers, learned how to fight fires.  A lady from Alaska came
down and taught the main class...had a mock disaster with artifacts scattered and
we had to go in and pull out certain artifacts just like if happened.   Things were
wet....we had to dry things off as disk, cassetts, books, posters, etc.

First things you go after are your orignal records; second things on loan and
third, the valuable things in collection.  It is good to have your local fire department
take a walk through with your staff of your museum/organization...so they know
where to go if there is a fire and what is important to save, not to get wet (if
possible) etc..  Also, you know to keep two sets of records in different locations,
and one of them NOT on site.

FEMA also puts out a course you might want to check with them.  Again, check
with Red Cross, too.

John Martinson, This Is The Place Heritage Park, Utah

-----Original Message-----
From:   Doug Lantry [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Thursday, May 06, 1999 6:47 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        security

Query: What types of training do you give your volunteers and staff re
emergencies like fire, bomb threats, unhinged persons on the grounds/in
the buildings, suspicious packages, etc.?

Ohio's state capitol is working on this with a consultant, and we, the
tour operation and educators/historians, are to participate. I'd like to
know how others approach the topic in a museum atmosphere (though we're
both an historic site and a working gov't office building). Seminars?
Handouts? Drills? Other? Recent events, of course, have sharpened our
awareness of these things.

Thanks for your views.

-Doug

.......................................
Doug Lantry
The Ohio Historical Society
Statehouse Education and Visitors Center
Columbus, Ohio
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