Exploring

Preparing for Disaster

Supplies and Services

Who would you call if you had wet documents that needed to be dried? What is the after-hours number for the library's plumber? Who would you call if you needed computer data restored, or if you discovered a gas leak? You should gather phone numbers for essential services, as well as sources for necessary supplies and equipment, before disaster strikes. During the disaster planning process, assign someone to gather information about services and supplies, including their cost.

Basic Services

At a minimum, include telephone numbers and after-hours contact information for:

• Fire department
• Police department
• Ambulance
• Security company (or in-house security)
• Insurance company
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Heating and cooling service company
• Utility companies
• Conservation/preservation assistance
• Local freezer facility (where wet collections can be frozen quickly until they can be transferred to a vacuum freeze drying service)
• Vacuum freeze drying service
• Any other crucial services

Additional Services

In the event that your building is inaccessible for some time, you may want to arrange for alternate locations to which phone service, telecommunications, and/or computer operations could be moved, so that your institution can continue to operate while collections and the building are salvaged. Depending on the scope of your collections, other services that might be needed include microfilm salvage, videotape salvage, and/or computer media recovery.

Supplies

It is a good idea to keep a limited number of supplies on hand for immediate response to minor water emergencies. A separate list should be kept of names and numbers for sources of additional supplies. See the sidebar for a sample checklist of basic emergency supplies.

  See a Basic Emergency Supplies Checklist (PDF, 456k).