>Every resource we have been able to locate stresses two things that
>don't really pertain to us.  First, there is a real emphasis on
>knowing where utility turn-off switches are located.  Unfortunately,
>those areas are controlled and accessible only by the University
>Physical Plant.  Second, almost all of the salvage resources seem to
>deal with archival material.  The majority of our collections are
>3-D.

The process of writing a disaster plan was VERY informative for us as a
university based museum because it exposed all the areas where we didn't
have control...like utility turn-offs.  The various departments of Physical
Plant were impressed (especially the Office of Health and Safety) that we
cared enough to write a disaster plan that our service from them improved.
The Safety Office even created maps of our buildings for the disaster plan
outlining all the turn-offs, fire extinguishers, etc (these are the sheets
that they give the city fire department).  Knowing where the turn-off
switches are turns out to be important because the first responder to
alarms is a university police officer who doesn't know where the alarm
panel and switches are off the top of their heads.

Things we learned:

Dialing 911 gets the University Police
Dialing 9+911 gets the real Emergency Services
We have to check our own fire extinguishers
We are not necessarily notified of after-hours alarms

As for resources for 3-D material, check out the WHEEL O' DISASTER from the
National Task Force on Emergency Response (contact the National Institute
for Conservation, 3299 K St NW, Ste 602, Washington DC 20007-4415).  Talk
to your regional FEMA office to see if they have advise.  Also, get a list
of conservators and other museum professionals in your area.  Even if they
are experts in other fields, they are experienced in handling museum
objects and can be a great boon in times of trouble.  Paper and book
conservators helped us dry and oil guns after a water pipe broke and swept
through our firearms exhibit (under the direction of knowledgable staff).
Networking is important.

I've attended a few disaster planning sessions and learned there were a lot
of issues that weren't on my radar.  One speaker was from the Red Cross and
brought up the topic of psychological problems due to disasters (hurricanes
wiping out staff housing, death of staff member even under normal
conditions is a disaster,  etc.)  Also think about contacting the FBI for
information on terrorism, etc.

Sally Baulch-Rhoden
Collections Manager
Cultural History Division
Texas Memorial Museum

Science is a Cultural Construct

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