Recovering from Rita: Lessons Learned & Disaster Preparedness Rebecca Blakeley, McNeese State University Library

Hurricane Rita

Preparations Pre-Disaster Review (Ha!) Wait for closing order Secure all equipment? Cover shelves? Certain collections? Place signs on doors (duh) Alert Consortia to closure

Pre-Disaster Review (Ha!)

Wait for closing order

Secure all equipment?

Cover shelves? Certain collections?

Place signs on doors (duh)

Alert Consortia to closure

Damaged Library Roof - 4 th Floor

Damaged Library Roof - 4 th Floor

Let’s back up a bit…

Communication Take the “safety manual” with you! Get cell phone #s and encourage all staff to get alternate e-mail addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) Keep Consortia updated Put messages on website, blog, twitter, FaceBook, etc. etc.

Take the “safety manual” with you!

Get cell phone #s and encourage all staff to get alternate e-mail addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.)

Keep Consortia updated

Put messages on website, blog, twitter, FaceBook, etc. etc.

Temporary HQ

How to offer library services when there is not a real library to work with! Post signs all over campus announcing where you are Be available via phone and/or e-mail Be a “virtual library”

Post signs all over campus announcing where you are

Be available via phone and/or e-mail

Be a “virtual library”

Coping Skills BE PATIENT Cooperate & communicate Be flexible Read up on remediation Relieve stress

BE PATIENT

Cooperate & communicate

Be flexible

Read up on remediation

Relieve stress

The Great Reopening…

Reopening the Library… Keep in touch w/facilities & administration BE PATIENT – It takes time to remediate Keep in touch with GPO, etc. if you are a government depository Look for ways to replace items lost Transition issues

Keep in touch w/facilities & administration

BE PATIENT – It takes time to remediate

Keep in touch with GPO, etc. if you are a government depository

Look for ways to replace items lost

Transition issues

Great Mold Outbreak of 2006!

Great Mold Outbreak of 2007!

Other Lessons Learned & Disaster Plans Revised