“Arts spaces are critical centers of opportunity and possibility for neighborhoods. We use the devices of cultural, ritual, celebrations as ways of being able to fertilize, to build bridges, to otherwise support the progressive development of community…” -Cultural Placekeeping Guide
Resources are organized by disaster phase.
Readiness: What can you do to prepare before a disaster hits? Use these tools to ready yourself and your organization for whatever may come.
Response: What do you do during a disaster? Follow these guidelines to take action in the midst of an emergency to ensure health and safety.
Recovery: What steps can you take to bounce back after a disaster? These resources can help you navigate the complexities of recovery funding, organizational restoration, and emotional strengthening.
Readiness
Conduct risk assessment
- Identify the hazards
- State of Vermont assesses natural hazards in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan (2023)
- Assess the risks
- Implement appropriate mitigation measures
- Monitor and reassess risks
More information and checklists:
FEMA’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process
Risk assessment from Ready.gov
Readiness webinars from Performing Arts Readiness
ArtsReady and dPlan’s library of emergency planning resources
Create or update emergency plan
- Performing Arts Readiness Sample Emergency Plans
- Business continuity planning from Ready.gov
Build relationships with local emergency managers
- Working with Emergency Responders: Tips for Cultural Institutions from Heritage Preservation
Response
Essential Guidelines for Arts Responders Organizing in the Aftermath of Disaster: A primer to help local and state arts agencies, organizations, foundations, and other arts groups plan and administer a coordinated disaster mobilization system within their service area.
Recovery
Performing Arts Readiness Loss of Income Calculator: An easy online tool to help calculate the estimated loss of income your organization could suffer due to an emergency or disaster.
Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Assistance: Low-interest loans to help businesses of all sizes, including nonprofits, recover from declared disasters.
Art Became the Oxygen: An Artistic Response Guide: A guide for artists, funders, and emergency responders and service organizations on the power of arts-based work in response to emergencies, with hundreds of links to powerful arts projects, official emergency resources, and detailed accounts for those who want to go even deeper.
Arts Organizations at a Crossroads Toolkit: Managing Transitions and Preserving Assets: A guide to help arts leaders through three significant transitions in an organization’s life: Structural shifts; loss of key staff/leadership; and creation of artistic and physical assets which deserve preserving.