Nine Steps of Disaster Management

 (Résumé of actions taken in the flood in Saxony 2002;

author: Dr. Schuler, 05 / Jan / 01)

1) Before and during the catastrophe

People

evacuation

            rescue operations

Objects

evacuation

Building

protection

2) Immediately afterwards

People

contacting the staff

helping the injured

recruiting volunteer helpers

Objects

keeping safely

cleaning + protecting

(paper): shock frosting

Building

emergency store room

cleaning

urgent repairs

drying

3) Provisional survey

Collecting information

identifying damaged as well as not affected museums

first assessment of damage (type, extent, value)

quick report (including a picture, if possible)

need for help (very detailed: assistance, material, equipment, money)

Spreading information

communication to museums + organisations (E-mail, Web portals)

website: start

media: press release on new ICOM-“task force”

4) Preparing support

Partnership

bringing museums together

Volunteer work

bringing people together

Donations

opening donation accounts

Relief funds

contacting foundations

establishing new funds

National schemes of support

collecting information

5) Giving support

Information

website

newsletter + FAQ

hotline

Advice

case management

supporting applications to foundations

selection of foundation

filling application form

joint applications

supporting in conflicts with bureaucracy  (very important!)

Controlling

fairness in distribution (mind the small museums!)

arriving of payments (if necessary: speeding up, instalment)

correct use of support

6) Final survey

Collecting information

detailed assessment of damage (see my checklist “Damage Assessment”)

definitive Reports

photographs (pre + after)

Spreading information

communication to museums + organisations

website: full version (see my report “The Web“)

media: press release

7) Back to normal life

People

individual psychological advice

time to recover, getting distance from the disaster

small meetings with exchange of personal experience

Objects

restoring

replacement of lost, severely damaged or stolen objects

Building

drying

detoxifying

renovation

safer (new) rooms for objects

new equipment

Exhibition

provisional reopening (as soon as possible; foto exhibition)

new displays etc

main reopening

8) Evaluation

Analysis

Conference

Publication

9) Precautions

Prevention

measures

checklist for museums (see my German checklist “Prävention”)

Spreading information

back to web site

back to Saxony 2002 homepage