Resources for Archives
Emergency Response Resources
Apps
Alberta Emergency Alert is operated by the Alberta Government and will send messages to your phone in the event of emergencies in the province. These messages may be informational (prepare for specific situations) or critical (immediate danger). Free.
This app provides up-to-date weather conditions and severe weather alerts specific to your location. Free.
This app helps creates inventories and reports about records and items from a collection, with space for notes and images. It would be useful during disaster recovery. Free for 30 days, then subscription.
Emergency Response and Salvage
Emergency Response and Salvage provides basic information on each step of disaster response, including step-by-step media based salvage techniques. Free.
This app assists users to identify “bugs”. It includes a reference gallery with images and descriptions. Users can also snap a photo of a pest and send it to a pest control expert directly through the app. The app is free except for the personalized service of sending in a photo. A professional will identify the “bug” in the photo for $2.99.
Alberta Rivers: Data and Advisories
This app features a map of Alberta displaying all of its rivers including information on their water levels and current flow.
Recovery Assistance
This is an international company with a Canadian branch that markets assistance with disaster recovery and remediation. This allows institutions to hire trained professionals to help them restore and repair damaged facilities.
CDR is offers professional level education including IICRC certification courses and seminars on disaster recovery.
This company advertises quick response to emergency disaster restoration; covering fire, water, wind and mould damage. They also offer a Priority Response Emergency Plan, where they will work with an institution to help them establish a disaster plan.
HazMasters sells safety equipment and supplies, as well as offering safety training.
Restoration Industry Association
Restoration Industry Assocation is a non-profit disaster recovery group that will put institutions in touch with specialized professionals.
Steamatic is a Canadian company that offers 24/7 emergency services covering both cleaning and facility restoration services.
This company provides many emergency response services such as document recovery, electronics cleaning, mould removal, structural drying, among others. They have a branch located in Calgary with a 24/7 emergency number.
*** Please note that this list is provided as a convenience to people seeking emergency planning and recovery resources and does not represent an endorsement by the Archives Society of Alberta.
Emergency Planning
Ball, C. and A. Yardley-Jones, eds. Help! A Survivor’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness. Edmonton:
Alberta Museums Association, 2001.
Canadian Council of Archives. “Chapter 5: Disaster Planning and Recovery.” Basic Conservation of Archival Materials: Revised Edition, 2003. Accessed October 3, 2014: http://archivescanada.ca/uploads/files/Publications/RBch5_en.pdf
Dadson, Emma. Emergency Planning and Response for Libraries, Archives and Museums. Toronto: The Scarecrow Press, 2012.
Forbes, Heather. “Preparation, Prevention and Practice: attempting to avoid disasters at Canterbury Cathedral Archives.” Journal of the Society of Archivists 24, 2 (2003): 189-197.
Holden, P. “Heaven Helps Those Who Help Themselves: The Realities of Disaster Planning.” Journal of the Society of Archivists 25, 1 (2004): 27-32.
National Archives and Records Administration. “A Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials.” Last modified 1999. http://www.archives.gov/preservation/emergency-prep/disaster-prep-primer.html
National Archives and Records Administration. “Vital Records and Records Disaster Mitigation and Recovery: An Instructional Guide.” Last modified 1999. https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/vital-records
Public Safety Canada. “The Canadian Disaster Database.” Last modified July 30, 2014. http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/cndn-dsstr-dtbs/index-eng.aspx
Wellheiser, Johanna, and Jude Scott. An Ounce of Prevention: Integrated Disaster Planning for Archives, Libraries and Record Centres. London: The Scarecrow Press, 2002.
Salvage and Recovery
McGregor, L. and J. Bruce. “Recovery of flood damaged documents by the Queensland State Archives.” Archives and Manuscripts 5 (1974): 193-199.
Minoque, Adelaide. “Treatment of fire and water damaged records.” American Archivist 9 (1946): 17-25. Metamorfoze. “Archives Damage Atlas: A Tool for Assessing Damage.” Last modified 2010. http://www.heritageforpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/archives_damage_atlas.pdf
Northeast Document Conservation Center. “NEDCC Preservation Leaflets: 3. Emergency Management.” Accessed October 14, 2014. https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/overview
Walsh, Betty. “Salvage Operations for Water Damaged Archival Collections: A Second Glance.” Accessed October 3, 2014 http://www.cdncouncilarchives.ca/salvage_en.pdf
Walsh, Betty. “Salvage at a Glance.” WAAC Newsletter 19, 2 (1997): pp.12–23. http://cool.conservation-us.org/waac/wn/wn19/wn19-2/wn19-207.html