Hurricane Information

Be prepared

During hurricane season, the winds, rain and storm surge of tropical storms and hurricanes have the potential to impact Florida.

It’s important that all individuals and cultural institutions prepare for possible strong winds, heavy rain and flooding.

Tracking and information

Track the storm via the National Hurricane Center.
Monitor information via the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Disaster plan

Gather your staff and review your disaster plan today. No disaster plan? Put that at the top of the to-do list once the storm passes.
If you have a disaster plan, make sure everyone has a printed copy to take home. An electronic version may be useless if you lose power.

Contact info

Make sure staff, volunteer, and board contact lists are up to date. Determine how you will communicate with one another before, during, and after the storm.
Make sure your insurance and disaster recovery vendor contact information is readily available.

Onsite

If you don’t already have up-to-date images (photographic/video) of your facility’s exterior and interior, including storage areas, take them now. Being able to illustrate how your building and collections looked before damage will be helpful if the need arises to pursue recovery financing.
Back up electronic records and store the back-ups off-site or in the cloud.
Secure outdoor furniture, bike racks, book drops, etc. – anything that can become a projectile in strong winds.
Move collections that are in areas vulnerable to flooding – i.e., the floor, the basement – or susceptible to rain – near windows or under roofs.
If you have time, cut lengths of plastic sheeting to throw them over shelves or equipment should the building envelope be compromised.
Know the location and shut-off procedures for water, electricity, and gas.
Review individual or family plans. You’ll feel better attending to your organization knowing that your loved ones are safe.

Before and after

Read tips on what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.

24-hour hotline

Keep this number handy: 661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals, are available 24/7 to provide advice.

FEMA fact sheets

Download FEMA fact sheets “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms.”

Disaster declaration

Familiarize yourself with the disaster declaration process in case one is declared for your state.

FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution co-sponsor the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of 58 national see organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies.