Connecting to Collections Care

Greetings,

Below is a message from our partners at the Heritage Emergency National Task Force regarding the severe storms in Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Dear HENTF Members,

 

I hope this message finds you safe and well. From February 17^th, severe storms, winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides have occurred in Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia, causing severe damage. Cultural institutions and arts organizations have no doubt been affected, as have artists and the general public. Please reach out to your members and constituents to help gather reports of damage and identify any unmet needs and share the following resources:

 

Cultural institutions, arts organizations, and artists and performing groups affected by the storms can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.    

 

Members of the public and individual artists who have questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org  

 

HENTF's Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets "After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures" and "Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms," available in multiple languages.    

 

Were any cultural institutions or arts organizations affected? If so, how? Please encourage those impacted to fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms: 

 

Cultural Institutions 

Arts Organizations 

Individual Artists and Performing Groups 

Stay safe,

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Christina Cain
Emergency Programs Manager
American Institute for Conservation and Foundation for Advancement in Conservation
Washington, D.C.
202.661.8069
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Update:

A major disaster declaration has been made on February 24^th (DR-4860).

  a. Public Assistance is currently only available in Category B (emergency protective measures) in the following counties: Martin, Pike, Letcher, Knott, Perry, Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, Clay, and Harlan counties. Learn more about Public Assistance. We will keep you informed of any additional categories and counties as they get added. 

  

EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE MEASURES may include, but are not limited to:  

1. Temporary emergency repair (blue roofs and other work) or stabilization of an eligible facility if it eliminates or lessens an immediate threat 
2. Wet vacuuming, damp wiping, or vacuuming with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) equipment of the interior space  
3. Removal of contaminated gypsum board, plaster (or similar wall finishes), carpet or floor finishes, and ceilings or permanent light fixtures 
4. Cleaning of contaminated heating and ventilation (including ductwork), plumbing, and air conditioning systems or other mechanical equipment 
5. Removal or relocation of collections to prevent damage or loss 

         

The Public Assistance Program Delivery Process. For more information, go to Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide Version 4 (fema.gov). 

  

 

  

2. Individual Assistance is available to individuals and households in the following counties: Martin, Pike, Letcher, Knott, Perry, Breathitt, Lee, Owsley, Clay, and Harlan counties. For disasters declared on or after March 22^nd, 2024, FEMA's Individual Assistance program was expanded to include quicker access to needed funds including simplifying assistance for self-employed individuals such as self-employed artists and entrepreneurs. Learn more about this update in the Press Release.   

  

3. Information on DR-4860 can be found at  4860 | FEMA.gov.

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Christina Cain
Emergency Programs Manager
American Institute for Conservation and Foundation for Advancement in Conservation
Washington, D.C.
202.661.8069
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