Implementing the Greater Southwest Historical Museum Disaster/Emergency Preparedness Plan

FAIN: PG-50963-10

Greater Southwest Historical Museum (Ardmore, OK 73401-2852)
Kristin Mravinec (Project Director: May 2009 to August 2011)
Christina Smith (Project Director: August 2011 to October 2011)

A workshop on disaster training for museum staff who manage a collection of more than 15,000 historical artifacts and archival records pertaining to the history of south-central Oklahoma. Highlights of the collection include furniture, clothing, and other materials that belonged to a family of ranchers in the 1890s; more than 2,000 historic photographs; and artifacts related to the Great Fire of 1895 in Ardmore.

The Greater Southwest Historical Museum proposes to hire a consultant for a two-day workshop on Disaster Training. For Day 1, the agenda would be an overview of the emergency planning and response process. For Day 2, GSHM will partner with the Oklahoma Museums Association for a hands-on workshop. The proposed program would concentrate on the salvage of damaged collections to minimize loss. Staff would then purchase disaster supplies to be used in the event of an emergency. The proposed project would take place from January 2010 to September 2010. The disaster workshop would provide Board and staff members with up-to-date information and skills for proper procedures in handling a disaster or emergency, as past disaster workshop in Oklahoma have been limited. It would allow them to adequately identify and assess risks appropriate to our region. Staff, volunteers, and other museum professionals more importantly would have the knowledge and experience to perform salvage operations.