May 1st means its MayDay! Are you ready in case of a disaster? The
National Archives offers information on how you can take steps to limit
damage before a disaster occurs and how to salvage damaged materials
after a disaster has happened. Check it out at: https://www.archives.gov/preservation/records-emergency
Happy May Day!
For a number of years, May Day has been used by archives, libraries, and other cultural institutions as an annual reminder to be prepared to respond to emergencies affecting holdings. May is a good time to update emergency response plans and to check-in with potential vendors whose services may be needed.
At the National Archives, we are prepared 24/7 to protect records A group of conservators–known as the Beeper Team–rotates carrying an emergency pager. If a water or other event occurs at any NARA facility across the country, staff are asked to contact NARA Security (which is staffed around the clock) and ask for the Conservator-on-Call. The conservator is paged and then initiates discussion relating to the nature of the event, the types of materials affected, and actions needed. Depending on the type and extent of the emergency, assistance and advice may be given in-person or remotely.
You can use May Day as a reminder to review your home emergency plan. Do you have a plan in place to prevent damage to your family treasures and personal papers? NARA has information you can use to prepare:
http://www.archives.gov/preservation/records-emergency/public.html
Being prepared for the unexpected–and being poised to act to protect holdings and your personal collections–are important preservation tools.
