Disaster Planning Resources

Resources available through our Disaster Preparedness & Recovery.

Coping With Disasters, Violence, and Traumatic Events

Experiencing a disaster can cause significant mental distress that can lead to long term ill effects and mental illness. The links below provide information, resources, and knowledge regarding disasters and the mental impacts that follows.

For Children and Parents

Disaster Emergency Information Center

Dealing with the aftermath of a disaster can be overwhelming. This is your One Stop Shop for disaster recovery efforts for librarians, businesses, and the general public.

Stafford Act

The New Jersey State Library wishes to remind libraries damaged in a major disaster that they are eligible for federal assistance under the Stafford Act.

The Stafford Act authorizes federal assistance for temporary relocation of public libraries. Libraries are now included in the list of public facilities that are eligible for federal assistance through FEMA with temporary relocation following a major disaster.

For the language in the Stafford Act, see http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/pa/9253_3.pdf. Eligible public facilities include facilities for police, fire protection/emergency services, medical care, education, libraries, utilities and other essential community services.

This change was announced in January 2011, by ALA: http://connect.ala.org/node/127510.

Disaster Planning Tools

Disasters come in all shapes and sizes, from natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes to emergencies like fire, leaking roofs, and mold. An emergency can easily spiral into a disaster if you, and your institution are not prepared to respond.

ALA Disaster Preparedness Resources

Here is free template designed by the Northeast Document Conservation Center to help institutions of all sizes write comprehensive disaster plans. dPlan can serve the needs of small institutions without in-house preservation staff, and library and museum systems that need to develop separate but related plans for multiple locations.

dPlan: The Online Disaster-Planning Tool

The most comprehensive disaster plans cover the four facets of the emergency management cycle prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery which correspond to before, during, and after a disaster. If you have been meaning to write a disaster plan but your efforts have stalled, the Connecting to Collections webinar recordings and course materials will help you establish the crucial first steps following a disaster.

Writing a Disaster Response Plan: A Guide

Historically, public libraries often support their communities during crises with essential services, including access to the internet, assistance with e-government forms, and even shelter. Preparing for all hazards means planning and training based on an analysis of a variety of risks, including natural and human caused. This is the All Ready Reference Guide to many of the free resources available through your local, state, and Federal government. The Guide is hyperlinked to take you to those resources. Use these resources throughout the emergency management cycle to prepare your library, and your community, to be All Ready.

Note: the guide uses some Massachusetts based resources, but does contain general resources and good information.

All Ready Reference: A Guide for Public Libraries for All Hazards

Extensive chart listing type of materials, priority for salvage, handling precautions, packing method, and drying method. Includes not only maps and books, but also parchment and vellum, prints and drawings, paintings, computer media, audio, photographs of all types, transparencies, motion pictures and microfilm.

Salvage at a Glance Chart

Resources on building a disaster resilient community, children in disasters, centers for disease control, help & resource guides.

One Page All Libraries (OPAL), a service continuity plan for libraries that helps you get your services up and running again, as quickly as possible, after a disaster.

One Page All Libraries (OPAL) Example

In the wake of a disaster it can be difficult to know where to begin the technology recovery process. With so many other pressing concerns how should you prioritize IT recovery? What steps need to be taken immediately and which can wait?

Click on Disaster Recovery & Hurricane Preservation Technical Assistance for information specific to Katrina and Rita and some excellent assessment tools.

National Park Service: National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

Community and state resources and information from the US Department of Homeland Security and other state and local governments.

Ready America

Excellent emergency preparedness and response toolkit.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine

Sample Disaster Plans

Resources, Suppliers, Vendors

Disaster Preparedness for Individuals and Families

An emergency can occur quickly and without warning. The most important thing you can do to keep yourself and your family safe from an emergency is to prepare, stay calm, and follow instructions from emergency personnel.