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"Ready — Or Not": Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project


The “Ready—Or Not” Project provides free emergency preparedness services to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations).

This project is funded by the California State Library and runs through May 2026. Follow along at #ReadyOrNotCA on FacebookInstagram, and LinkedIn.


FREE Services

California heritage institutions can request free consulting services by filling out an online form, emailing [email protected], or calling 855-501-3020. 

Emergency Preparedness Assessments (On-Site)

A team of emergency preparedness consultants based in California conduct free, on-site emergency preparedness assessments for participating organizations and deliver a summary report that documents the organization's current state of emergency preparedness.

Each report includes recommendations for mitigating risks, taking emergency preparedness actions, and completing a disaster plan, thereby providing each with tools to better protect their collections in an emergency, ensuring that California’s cultural heritage is preserved into the future.

Schedule a Consultation

Disaster Plan Creation or Update (Remote/Online)

An emergency preparedness consultant will work with you one-on-one to gather the information needed for them to write or update your organization’s disaster plan. This work is done remotely.

Request disaster plan assistance

In-Person Wet Salvage Workshops

These in-person workshop covers disaster recovery basics—risk assessment, preparedness, response, and recovery. Participants will analyze two disaster scenarios, practice wet salvage techniques, and gain hands-on experience with a preservation expert. This training enhances annual disaster plan reviews and prepares attendees to be effective first responders. Only open to California-based participants.

Register for Upcoming Workshops

Online Classes and Training Videos

Training opportunities focused on emergency response and collections salvage.

Access to dPlan|ArtsReady

An online tool for risk assessment and emergency planning.


FAQS

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TESTIMONIALS

"On behalf of Grupo de Teatro SINERGIA at the Frida Kahlo Theater, we want to express our deepest gratitude for the detailed and comprehensive consultation you gave us on emergency preparedness. You immediately understood the needs of a small arts organization, and the realities and challenges we face in a post-pandemic environment.  Your site visit was extremely thorough.  

We really appreciated the time you took to patiently listen to our needs, take a tour of the facilities, and advise us on how to begin creating a detailed plan to ensure both safety and succession/continuity of business for our organization. The 35 page report, plus templates and additional resources, will be invaluable as we move forward. Consulting with you regarding preservation of our archival materials was extremely helpful, as we gain awareness of the importance of our history, not only to the theater community, but to the Latinx community at large.

We would also like to acknowledge the California State Library for funding and the Northeast

 Document Conservation Center for implementing this program, which would have been beyond the scope of our resources. Grupo de Teatro SINERGIA wholeheartedly recommends this program and has given your information to several other Latinx theater companies in Los Angeles."

Rubén Amavizca, Administrative Director at the Frida Kahlo Theater

“I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your valuable time and effort spent with our museum staff yesterday for the 'Ready-Or Not' Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project. Your insights and expertise were truly enlightening and have significantly contributed to the success of our project. Your dedication to preserving and promoting cultural heritage is inspiring, and we are incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from you. The knowledge and perspective you shared will undoubtedly help us in our ongoing efforts to safeguard our cultural heritage.” 

- James Bier, Museum Director of the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center


NEws AND EVENTS

- Since 2022, NEDCC’s “Ready – Or Not” team has visited more than 375 organizations across California, including archives, museums, libraries, historical societies, tribal nations, county clerks, public art collections, cultural centers, state historic parks, national parks, university cultural departments, community organizations, outdoor art installations, and missions and diocese collections, wildlife associations, and botanical gardens.

-
“Ready—Or Not”: Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project Receives Additional $1.7 Million (press release)

- RoN participants use their assessment reports to secure funding for emergency preparedness:

  • NEH awarded the GLBT Historical Society funds to purchase and install preservation furniture for rare and unique archival posters.
  • NEH also provided funding to the Automotive Research Library - Horseless Carriage Foundation for storage shelving, emergency response supplies, and online training to improve stewardship of materials related to automobile history.
  • Groundwork Grants supported the Mineral King Preservation Society in acquiring items to better preserve and protect their collection.
  • Groundwork Grants also supported Turtle Bay Exploration Park with funds to enhance the stewardship of their permanent collection of art, artifacts, historical documents, and images. 

Project Background

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RECORDED Information sessions

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Resources for Participating Organizations

Pocket Response Resource: Instructions for Arts and Cultural Organizations

Download the Pocket Response Resource template here.

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Collections Management Grant Opportunities

Download a PDF here.

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This project is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library. 

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