You may think of disasters as large, catastrophic events such as tornadoes or floods -- dramatic natural events over which there is little, if any, control. Yet many disasters are events that only affect collections within a single institution. But whether large or small, disasters can threaten the security of collections. A single fire or flood can erase substantial portions of a community's unique history.

Caretakers are responsible for safeguarding holdings from all varieties of threat. Preparing for disasters requires an ongoing commitment to:

• Reduce potential risks.
• Develop a plan of action for response to disasters.

To prepare for a disaster, we must first become aware of the potential hazards collections face.

Hazards information adapted from the Vermont Emergency Management and the Georgia Department of Archives and History, Disaster Preparedness.