Introduction 

Natural disasters are a fact of life. From large, sometimes catastrophic events, like a hurricane or an earthquake, to smaller disasters, such as mold outbreaks or mild flooding, disasters put historical records at risk. People also cause disasters --acts of violence and terrorism, for example--for which you must be prepared.  

Large or small, natural or man-made, emergencies put your program’s staff and collections in danger. Some disasters may affect your whole collection, while others may affect only a part. 

Unfortunately, most historical records programs learn about the importance of planning for disasters through hard experience. But an emergency does not have to become a disaster. Full-fledged disasters can often be avoided by recognizing and eliminating risks, and by preparing to respond effectively to emergencies.

This lesson takes about 30 minutes to complete.

 
A hurricane is an immediate and catastrophic disaster.