4  Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Response Plan

Emergency Preparedness/Response Procedures

The UM’s evacuation plan is current as of 2024 (Figure 4.1).

(a) Kent Hall Basement evacuation plan 2024.

 

(b) Kent Hall 1st Floor evacuation plan 2024

 

(c) Kent Hall 2nd Floor evacuation plan 2024

Figure 4.1: Kent Hall evacuation plan 2024. Click figure for full size pdf image.

General Guidelines

Accidental Damage

Bomb Threat

Civil Disturbance

Earthquake

Environmental Emergencies

Fire

The Director and Curator are authorized to use portable fire extinguishers to fight fires. All other employees, students, or volunteers must evacuate the museum immediately when the fire alarm sounds. Each year, employees authorized to use portable fire extinguishers must be trained to use the devices. Fire extinguishers in the museum must be inspected, tested, and maintained 29 CFR 1910.157(b)(2).

Flood (weather or internal plumbing)

Hazardous Materials

Hurricane

Mechanical Failure

Medical/Health Emergency

Mold

Neighboring Emergency

Pests

In both Kent and Wells Halls there is a high potential for pest infestations if left unchecked. Museum records indicate that in Kent Hall pest infestations, particularly dermistid betels, were a problem in the past. Little is known about the pest history in Wells Hall. However, in Wells Hall there is presently a great deal of debris, and insect pests have been observed on more than one occasion.

Museum pests include insects, vermin, as well as mold and microbes; all of these are agents of deterioration (NPS 2019, 3:2). Of these pests, rodents are perhaps the greatest potential for harm, but “the museum cat can be a cheap and simple method of reducing rodent problems” (Ambrose and Paine 2006, 176). There is a UM cat, and there are no signs of rodents at KH Figure 4.2. Controlling insects is much more difficult, and they have been a greater issue for the UM. Pesticides are not recommended for museum collections because the chemicals may harm the objects (NPS 2019, 5:8). The National Park Service prescribes, and the UM seeks to follow, a program of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Figure 4.2: UM cat takes in late day sun on the second floor ledge of the East Wing of Kent Hall 2023-12-21.

Elements of an IPM:

• Gather information about collections and kinds of pests likely to impact them. Information gathering should include interior and exterior conditions of the building and the condition of the building envelope.
• Identify information about pests that are likely to damage collections.
• Review IPM policies.
• Establish priorities to focus on. Eg. monitor all doors into the second floor or traps in collection areas that are near doors.
• Establish action thresholds. How many pests in collections are too many.
• Monitor objects, environmental conditions, and pests.
• Implement ecosystem approach to management and control of pests.
• Document monitoring and treatment.
• Work and coordinate with museum staff.
• Evaluate results and calibrate as needed.

IPM and museum housekeeping are intimately connected and should be done in concert (NPS 2019, 5:12).

Sticky traps are used in Kent Hall. Generally, traps are set near doorways and by HVAC systems.

Pandemic/Public Health Emergency

Power Loss/Energy Cutback

Security/Theft/Vandalism

Structural Failure

Terrorism

Tornado/Windstorm

Active Shooter/Assailant

Pipeline Incident

Emergency Salvage Procedures

This should include specific recovery actions for types of materials in the collection.

Ambrose, Timothy, and Crispin Paine. 2006. Museum Basics. 2nd ed. The Heritage: CarePreservationManagement. London: Routledge.

NPS, ed. 2019. The Museum Handbook Part i: Museum Collections. Washington, D. C.: National Park Service (NPS) Museum Management Program (MMP). https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/MHI/MHI.pdf.