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MayDay

Do ONE thing for emergency preparedness

Continuing in the tradition established by the Society of American Archivists and Heritage Preservation, the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation encourages libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and preservation organizations to set aside May 1st to participate in MayDay.

This year, make sure your institution is prepared!

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Suggested Preparedness Activities

Disaster preparedness doesn’t have to be difficult. You can take simple steps throughout the year toward your goals. Why not start this MayDay? Here are some suggestions:

  • If you have a disaster plan, dust it off and make sure it's up to date.
  • If you don't have a plan, commit to creating one by making a timeline for developing it.
  • Conduct a building evacuation drill, evaluate the results, and discuss ways to improve your staff's performance. 
  • Update your staff contact information and create a wallet-size version of your emergency contact roster using the Council of State Archivist's Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™)
  • Identify the three biggest risks to your collection or building (such as a dust storm, leaking water pipe, heavy snow, or power failure) and outline steps to mitigate them. You can use our Risk Evaluation and Planning Program (REPP) tools for risk evaluation to guide your assessment. 
  • Identify and prioritize important collection materials.
  • Eliminate hazards such as storage in hallways, blocked fire exits, or improper storage of paints, solvents, etc.
  • Make a plan to install any needed safety systems.
  • Plan to train and drill an in-house disaster team.
  • Provide staff with easily accessible disaster response information, such as the Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel. 
  • Get to know your local firefighters and police--invite them to come tour your institution and give you pointers on safety and preparedness.
  • Plan to take a course on risk assessment or disaster planning. 
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