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Home > TAM
Publications > PREP Disaster Types
DISASTER TYPES
A disaster plan must distinguish between strategies used to mitigate
the effects of disasters that cannot be avoided (usually structural or
natural) and strategies set up to prevent a disaster (usually man-made)
from occurring in the first place. The first step in preparing a disaster
plan is to be aware of the many types of disasters that could affect your
museum. Once you have identified the types of disasters most likely to
occur, you can tailor your plan to address these priorities.
The following list of disaster types is based in part on A Systematic
Approach to the Conservation (Care) of Museum Collections by Stefan Michalski,
published by the Canadian Conservation Institute in 1992. Notice that,
though the causes may be different, there is some overlap in the effects
of various disasters. Most importantly, there is no substitute for a well
trained staff, a regular review and upgrade of facilities, good building
design, and Willamette cases. These will not prevent all disasters, but
will keep some from happening and will mitigate the effects of the rest.
1. NATURAL: Focus on mitigation and response.
Flood and other forms of water damage
Water damage can occur from flooding after severe rainstorms, snow melt,
and/or rising waters. It also occurs when sprinkler systems are set off
in a fire or when water is used to extinguish flames. The latter two may
be unavoidable, which is why they are listed both here and under man-made
(preventable) disasters.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, and other weather emergencies
These extreme weather emergencies include the effects of high winds, whether
straight or cyclonic, the physical effect of hail, and the effects of
wind-borne dust and sand (acting as an abrasive and contaminant).
Geological emergencies
This includes the effects of earthquakes, subsidence, and landslides on
the structural integrity of the building and on the collections.
Fire
This category is reserved for fires arising from outside combustion (i.e.
forest or grass fires that threaten the museum's security). Damage from
any fire includes not only combustion, but also damage from smoke and
from high heat levels, as well as from toxic fumes arising from burning
structural materials. There is also the risk of igniting explosive or
volatile materials.
Building failure
This can include the collapse of ceilings, floors, and walls as the result
of structural weakening from physical stress or aging.
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2. MAN-MADE: Focus on preventive measures
Direct physical force: shock, vibration, abrasion, gravity
This is usually the result of poor storage or handling, causing
damage to the physical integrity of objects, collections, or structures.
Theft, vandalism, bomb or weapons threat
A breach in the access security of a building may be either the cause
or the effect of this category of disasters. Museum property may be defaced,
mutilated, or stolen. In extreme cases, firearms or explosives may be
used to endanger lives as well.
Fire
Man-made fires can result from improper disposal of smoking materials,
sparks from arc welding, accidental combustion of volatile or explosive
materials (many of which are used in preparation, exhibition, and conservation),
or arson. Damage includes direct heat and combustion effects, smoke damage,
and water damage.
Water
Preventable water damage can occur when fire fighters use high-pressure
hoses to extinguish a fire, plumbing pipes or fixtures leak or rupture,
or fluids are spilled onto museum materials.
Medical emergencies
This includes the effects of sudden illness, injuries,and accidents, either
connected to a disastrous event or happening in isolation. This is a crisis
for the affected individual and for the museum, which may be liable for
unsafe conditions or inability to provide acceptable first-responder (such
as first aid) care. Some situations can be prevented by planning and redesigning
public areas, providing appropriate access structures, isolating attractive-nuisance
features from access, and requiring staff training in first aid and CPR.
Many medical emergencies are unforeseeable and unavoidable.
Power outage
Possibly connected with other disasters, the effects of a power outage
range from minor annoyance to life-threatening emergency. Effects may
include shutdown of electrically controlled points of access/exit, loss
of computer access and information, loss of phone systems, disruption
of security systems, increased risk in maneuvering through buildings;
and the trapping of people in elevators.
Chemical emergencies
The effects of spilling or otherwise releasing potentially harmful chemicals
may be extremely serious, causing medical emergencies ranging from dizziness
and nausea to shortness of breath, unconsciousness, severe bums, or death.
In addition, the museum may be held liable for long-term health impairments
resulting from chemical exposure on its premises.
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3. CHRONIC
Contaminants, pests, radiation (visible light, UV, and infrared), incorrect
temperature, and incorrect relative humidity may not seem like disasters
until their effects are experienced. If no preventive measures are taken,
all can damage or destroy museum materials just as thoroughly as a more
obvious short-term disaster. The strategies that are used to protect against
their effects are similar: prevention of exposure and control of internal
environment.
Pest damage
Pests are almost always preventable and almost always manage to be present.
To survive in a museum, pests need access, food, and habitat. Prevention
centers on blocking these. Pests may include, but are not limited to,
microorganisms (e.g. bacteria and fungi), insects and spiders, rats, mice,
bats, and nesting birds.
Contaminants
Building failure can occur over time by exposure to severe atmospheric
acid precipitation, particularly if the building material is limestone,
marble, or other acid-sensitive substance. Radon is a feature of many
areas located over naturally radioactive geological deposits and may permeate
the building. Soluble salts in structural materials may migrate to the
surface of building stone, and causing it to spill and fail. Contaminants
include both external pollutants (particulates in the air, acid precipitation,
smoke and smog, and toxic fumes) and internal pollutants (smoke, formaldehyde,
solvent fumes, radon, asbestos fibers, even oxygen or ozone for some materials).
Radiation (background, visible light, UV, infrared)
The amount of background radiation will vary directly with the site's
elevation above sea level. Exposure to radiation can cause fading, yellowing
of certain materials, embrittlement, or cracking, and, sometimes, the
loss of sensitive materials.
Incorrect temperature
Temperature fluctuations are often a normal weather feature and may be
sufficient to initiate building failure. Frost heaving of building materials
is also a serious problem. Temperature damage occurs when severe fluctuations
cause materials to fail after repeated expansion and contraction; when
inappropriately high temperatures cause increased reaction rates and heat
damage; or when below-freezing temperatures cause water in materials to
expand.
Incorrect relative humidity
Like incorrect temperature, this is often correlated with external fluctuations,
In buildings without climate control or air handling systems, especially
older or historic structures, this can be one of the major causes of damage.
Relative humidity damage occurs when repeated and severe fluctuations
cause material failure; when a low relative humidity leads to drying and
cracking; or when a high relative humidity increases reaction rates and/or
provides an environment for microorganisms to attack materials.
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4. CATASTROPHIC
Human catastrophes (catastrophic accidents, war) are considered to be
the most destructive events, and, one hopes, the rarest. Unanticipated
events, such as ground or air vehicle crashing into the building, fall
into this category, along with acts of terrorism and vandalism. None of
these can be prepared for specifically, but a good risk management plan
can deal with their effects.
SPECIAL NOTE: Synergistic effects
Often, disaster effects are magnified greatly because disasters combine
categories. The damage from a storm may include wind and water damage,
structural damage, fires, and exposure of materials to environmental factors.
Devastating problems require first response, but they may mask ancillary
and more creeping forms of damage. Always look beyond the obvious damage
for other forms of damage that may be occurring during and after a disaster.
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