While community members are often eager to help, managing a deluge of donations can present a secondary challenge during a disaster. To help communities impacted by the 2020 fire season, the Sacramento Bee suggests providing cash assistance to community groups that have a proven record of helping those affected by wildfires. Aid workers say if […]
Disaster plans are only as good as the people that implement them. The following trainings and exercises can help your library prepare before the next disaster. If you have a resource to share on LibraryRecovery.org, please email William Cooley at wcooley@ckgroup.org. Emergency & Disaster Response Training Listos California: Emergency Preparedness CourseListos, an initiative of the […]
While disaster plans should be based on a library’s unique needs, all plans should address the following core topics. Immediate emergency response Consider what should happen in the seconds and minutes after a disaster strikes. How should staff members and volunteers respond? Start by planning for the hazards you identified as being most likely to […]
Whether it’s through after-school programs, summer reading, family literacy or Lunch at the Library, community partnerships play a vital role in many library-based programs. Disaster preparedness is no exception. Since 2015, the Sonoma County Library has partnered with the Redwood Empire Food Bank to bring free summer lunches to local students. “We’re always working with […]
Disaster preparedness is more than just an exercise in planning. It also involves considering the ways in which library culture and staff capacity contribute to resiliency. Staff of the Tehama County Library pose for a photo following the opening of the library’s new central branch in Red Bluff. We asked six NLS library leaders to […]
Once your team has had a chance to identify likely risks and review existing disaster plans, invite a broader range of staff, volunteers and community members into the conversation. Engaging the library community in planning can be done informally or through a community meeting. Encourage people to share their ideas on table sheets, post-it notes […]
Library disaster response efforts do not take place in a vacuum. Make sure to review existing plans in place for your county or city and to coordinate planning efforts with local government partners. Solano County staff in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) support response efforts during the 2017 Northern California wildfires. Familiarize yourself with city […]
In the world of disaster preparedness, organizations need to consider hazards and risks: A hazard is an event that has the potential to cause harm. A risk is the likelihood that a given hazard will actually cause harm. While wildfires are the most common hazard in the NorthNet region, libraries in the Sierra Nevada mountains, […]
Effective disaster responses always come down to people. Even the most well written disaster response plans will be ineffective without capable action on the part of staff members and volunteers. Get your planning process off to a strong start by identifying the right mix of people to help lead preparedness efforts. Identify an emergency coordinator […]
As a disaster abates, libraries should engage staff, volunteers and partners in transitioning to the recovery phase. Consider what work will need to be done before library branches can re-open. Depending on the disaster, significant time may be needed for repairs, environmental cleanup or cataloging library inventory. When a major snowstorm caused extensive flooding, the […]