As the devastating scenes come in from Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia in the wake of Hurricane Helene and we seek ways to assist with recovery and rebuilding the impacted communities, it is a reminder of the need to prepare for natural disasters.

FEMA disaster preparation cycle.

Just as individuals and families must prepare for hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires, libraries and their staff must as well—with thoughts not only about personal safety and protecting the building but also collection preservation.

Syracuse University worked with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, FEMA, and librarians to create a list of tips for libraries to prepare for natural disasters and have a plan for after the emergency when libraries often become a community hub for recovery. Among the suggested steps:

• Write a comprehensive disaster plan for your collection and train staff on it
• Store information on servers outside your building and use the cloud to back up vital information, such as collections lists, digital copies of materials, and contact information for staff
• Build relationships with local emergency officials
• Learn about recovery grants and resources before disaster strikes

Other resources to help prepare a library for natural disasters and other emergencies:

ALA Library Disaster Preparedness and Response

The Librarian’s Disaster Planning and Community Resiliency Guidebook from New Jersey State Library

Library of Congress Emergency Preparedness

The Disaster Planning Handbook for Libraries by Mary Grace Flaherty

Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery in School Libraries: Creating a Safe Haven by Christie Kaaland and William M Lokey