Introduction to Disaster Preparedness and Response for Museum Collections

Join ICON for a lunchtime presentation at the Tennessee State Museum's Education Suite on the basics of disaster preparedness and response for cultural institutions. Whether we're talking natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, or storms, or disasters in our buildings like fires, burst pipes and leaks, or broken HVAC systems, our buildings and collections need us to have a plan in place to protect them. By planning for the worst, taking steps to mitigate potential damage, and knowing what to do when disaster strikes, we can be better stewards of the treasures and stories we house.

Melanie D. Sanford is the owner and principal of Conserving Threads, a boutique firm providing comprehensive consultation, conservation, and installation services of costume and textile related objects for museums, historical societies, and private collectors. Ms. Sanford has a BS from Baylor University, an MS in Textile Conservation from the University of Rhode Island, and over…