When I finally got through the backlog of postings on Katrina, I was left
with a sense of foreboding about the misunderstanding of disaster recovery
funds. Lessons learned from survival of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake in
Santa Cruz, California:
1. FEMA will provide funds to repair or replace items you can document were
in the collections prior to the disaster. This includes storage materials,
but you are going to need ten times as much, or more, than you usually kept
on hand. Invoices from items ordered in past months suffice as
documentation. Of course the collections themselves are irreplaceable, but
damaged collections will receive emergency conservation funding. Are your
collections records stored off-site?
2. In a regional disaster such as that in New Orleans (and downtown Santa
Cruz), your infrastructure is gone and there is little physical support for
museum rescue, such as lights, refrigeration, toilets, water, vehicle access
or easy access to food. Volunteers trained for collections rescue must
arrive completely self-sufficient. Hard to do when your home is gone, along
with all your clothing and possessions. Bring in survival packs for local
rescue volunteers when you arrive. And include battery-powered headlamps
with LOTS of extra batteries!
3. Access to your building is controlled by the agency designated in your
city's disaster plan. If this is an agency whose management has never
before visited your museum, expect a total lack of understanding of museum
collections needs. If you have not have your disaster yet, this is a lesson
to take to heart-- read your city's disaster plan and start introducing
those people to your collections now. I believe I read that the New Orleans
Museum of Art is facing this quandary now, being ordered to leave the
collections unprotected.
4. The need for basic supplies and equipment far exceeds the rules and
regulations (and speedy response!) for IMS and other grant funding and
emergency response. The Southeast Museum organization now collecting funds
for disbursement to museums in need must be aware, sensitive and flexible.
In our case, we had not even one single pencil with which to begin recording
rescue priorities-- our suppliers were in the same zone of destruction so we
could not use our local accounts. I wept with relief and thanks when the
Sourisseau Academy of San Jose State University arrived on the scene with
$1000 in cash to begin replacing tools needed immediately to start the
collections rescue operation. New Orleans and the museums of the entire area
will be in the same helpless position. Also, the many small museums with
part-time or volunteer staff will not meet the administrative requirements
for grant receipt, and must not be forgotten or swept aside.
5. The psychological needs of the victims must not be underestimated or
presumed. Many people who have lost everything will need to help with museum
rescue just to feel some control. In addition to the many offers of
professional help, organized corps of regular volunteers will add
immeasurable help while helping their own coping strategies. You need
drivers, runners, feeders, carriers, box assemblers, communicators, press
contacts, musicians, oral historians and people who can sit there and hold
you while you cry.
6. A disaster zone is dangerous far beyond the immediate catastrophe,
especially the danger of disease. We only had an earthquake (albeit a big
one), yet everyone who entered that zone or was there when it happened
suffered for weeks from respiratory problems caused by inhaled abrasive
brick and mortar dust. Our sewage, rotting food and dead animals were not
dispersed though flooding, I cannot imagine what this smell and disease
potential is now. Protect yourself and think of who depends on you before
volunteering to re-enter this dangerous zone.
7. Thank you to everyone who sends money, medical aid, supplies, caring good
wishes, helping hands, expertise, continued followup, and especially to
those who understand disasters happen everywhere to everyone sometime-- get
prepared.
Micki Ryan
Museum & Archival Services
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