As we continue to learn about the full extent of impacts from Hurricane Helene's destructive path across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, our thoughts are with all those impacted. We know many may be still waiting to hear from loved ones and colleagues. The things we do know are heartbreaking.
The road to recovery will be long and challenging and the first priority is personal safety and health. As we better understand the impact on cultural heritage, FAIC's staff and National Heritage Responders (NHR) volunteers stand ready to support the long-term efforts to address the devastating damage done to cultural heritage in the affected areas.
What we can do now is make sure people have access to the information they need. Please take a moment to share information to your networks to help gather reports of damage, identify any unmet needs, and connect people to resources.
Cultural institutions, arts organizations, and artists and performing groups can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance.
Members of the public and individual artists who have questions about saving family heirlooms and personal collections can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org.
We know internet/cell access and power are limited in many places, but we also wanted to share the Heritage Emergency National Task Force's Save Your Family Treasures: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures. These fact sheets, "After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures" and "Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms," are downloadable and available in multiple languages. NHR also has Tip Sheets available to download that cover certain topics, such as working with emergency recovery vendors and health and safety considerations after floods: https://www.culturalheritage.org/resources/emergencies/national-heritage-responders/tip-sheets
If you have colleagues in the impacted areas, when appropriate, please encourage them to fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms:
Donations to the Red Cross and giving blood at your local blood bank are critical ways to help now. If you want to support NHR, you can give in support of our emergency programs here. As other opportunities to support recovery arise, we'll share ways you can help.
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Katelin Lee
(she/her)
Outreach Manager
Washington DC
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