[…] Disasters come in all shapes and sizes—fires, hurricanes, economic downturns, droughts, virus outbreaks, terrorism. We can’t predict how long the impact will be felt but we can do much to be ready. […] Disasters stretch the limits of community systems. Communities that recover best are […] those that have invested in social fabric, inter-connectedness, physical and emotional infrastructure, and those that have woven bonds between sectors and between citizens.
Jennifer Cole, Metro Nashville
Arts Commission1
Given the uncertainty of disasters, humanities organizations must have precautionary preparedness plans to ensure that their valuable works are accounted for. Some risk strategies to develop include:
- Relocating pieces to more structurally-sound areas;
- Conducting comprehensive structural assessments of the building to determine areas of vulnerability;
- Training staff to know the plan of action when disasters occur;
- Prioritizing pieces of most importance; and
- Ensuring that individuals are not put in harm's way in order to protect their work.2