Emergency Preparedness for the Alice Ferguson Collections

FAIN: PG-51160-11

Alice Ferguson Foundation, Inc. (Accokeek, MD 20607-9794)
Doris Sharp (Project Director: May 2010 to October 2012)

Consultation with a conservator who would assess risks and help develop an emergency preparedness plan to protect collections of furniture, decorative and fine art, farm equipment, tools, archival materials, and photographs at the Hard Bargain Farm, a working farm that offers educational programs about the environment and the cultural heritage of the Potomac River Watershed.

The Alice Ferguson Foundation (AFF) requests a Preservation Assistance Grant of $6,000 to strengthen its emergency preparedness procedures and policies through development of a written Emergency Preparedness Plan, staff training, and purchase of supplies and materials associated with protecting and, in the event of a disaster, salvaging the collections. The plan will identify risks to the collections and contain guidance for avoiding or responding to natural disasters and man-made emergencies at AFF’s Hard Bargain Farm (HBF). For this project, AFF will hire Brian Ramer, an independent conservation consultant from Baltimore, Maryland. He will review current security and fire procedures, conduct a site visit to identify risks and potential threats to the collections, and work closely with AFF staff to develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan. Mr. Ramer will plan and conduct a half-day training session to familiarize the AFF staff with emergency preparedness and response procedures as well as the staff's responsibilities. The project also includes purchase of supplies and materials needed to establish an emergency preparedness cache.