News

Heavy rains and melting snow have led to flooding throughout the Midwest, affecting parts of the Missouri and Mississippi river basins. Communities in Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin have been severely affected; those in neighboring states will likely see additional flooding in the coming days.

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) offers free emergency response assistance to cultural organizations affected by the flooding:

• The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals, are available to provide free advice on the phone via a 24-hour hotline at 202.661.8068
• The National Heritage Responders are also available to conduct free on-site assessments and provide guidance on salvage. Call the hotline (202.661.8068) to request assistance

Collecting institutions in the path of the floodwaters are encouraged to do all they can to prepare. Additional resources and information on disaster recovery and salvage can be found on the AIC and FAIC website at www.culturalheritage.org/resources/emergencies

What Can I Do?

• Share this information with friends and colleagues in the affected areas. A press release can be found here: https://bit.ly/2HJwb4t 
• Find volunteer organizations to support through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (FAIC is a member of this collective)
• Donate to support FAIC’s cultural heritage volunteer efforts
• Watch for emails requesting specific items or local assistance
• Connect with an Alliance for Response network in your area to become better prepared for future events

Learn more about the NHR team, their training, and the work they do when deployed. Note that all NHR members are volunteers who donate their time and efforts when emergencies occur—and they are only deployed after first responders secure the area and do the work of saving lives. Their travel and accommodation costs are funded through donations to FAIC.