After potential risks have been assessed, the next step in preparing for disasters is to develop an organized plan for responding when a disaster actually occurs.

This plan will include:

Locator maps for firefighters that show the location of collections within the building.

A telephone tree of staff and volunteers from your community who can be counted on to provide help in the event of a disaster. Include contacts within the Vermont Museum and Gallery Alliance's Emergency Response Team.

An inventory list of emergency supplies and their location.

An established chain of command for coordinating the recovery effort, based upon tasks to be performed.

The names and telephone numbers of your pre-established contacts at freezer storage and disaster recovery services.

Update your plan annually, and distribute copies of the disaster plan to all staff and volunteers. Remember to keep a duplicate copy of the plan at home. Your recovery plan will be of no use if it burns up inside your desk at work. Practice and reevaluate your plan regularly.