#  Emergency Preparedness 

 



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## Service Description

To assist Harvard Library repositories in mitigating and being prepared for collections emergencies, [Library Collections Emergency Team](/emergencies) (LCET) members:

- Coach repositories in creating, practicing, and updating **emergency plans**
- Collaborate with repository and facilities staff to **identify and mitigate collections emergency risks**
- Maintain a cache of **less common emergency supplies**, available to all Harvard libraries in urgent situations
    - Collapsible, corrugated plastic boxes (aka Rescubes) in multiple locations
    - Small amounts of hand tools, ziptop bags, etc.
- Offer group and customized **training** to Harvard Library and repository staff in emergency planning, response, and salvage
    - Comprehensive hands-on workshops
    - Tabletop exercises
    - 1-hour emergency response
- The Library Collections Emergency Team also provides [emergency response](https://preservation.library.harvard.edu/emergency-response) advice and consultation via a 24/7 phone line.

## Resources

We encourage all Harvard libraries to develop a written emergency preparedness plan to prevent and decrease damage to collections that are threatened during an emergency.

### Harvard Tools for Emergency Planning

- [Broad Areas of Responsibility During Emergencies](/broad-responsibilities)
- [Initial Response Communication Plan (MSWord .docx download)](https://preservation.library.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum11066/files/2026-01/20260123_InitCollsEmergResponseTemplate_HLPS.docx)
- [Emergency Supplies Recommendations](https://preservation.library.harvard.edu/recommended-emergency-supplies)
- [Collections Emergency Preparedness Benchmarks (spreadsheet .xlsx download)](https://preservation.library.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum11066/files/2026-01/20260130_Benchmarks_EmergencyPlan_1.xlsx)
- [2021 Library Collections Emergency Plan Template (editable MSWord .docx download)](/file_url/400)
- [Collections Salvage Priorities](/library-collections-salvage-priorities)
- [Protecting Collections During Renovation](/protecting-collections-during-renovation-0?admin_panel=1)
- [Preparing Collections for Shutdowns/Vacations ](https://preservation.library.harvard.edu/ShutdownPrep)

### Outside Resources

- [Pocket Response Plan (COSA)](/https:/www.statearchivists.org/programs/emergency-preparedness/emergency-preparedness-resources/pocket-response-plantm-prep-tm-english-template/)
- [dPlan: The Online Disaster-Planning Tool](https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/dplan-the-online-disaster-planning-tool) (NEDCC)

### Supplies for Emergencies

- [List of recommended supplies](/recommended-emergency-supplies)

## Recent Emergency Training Events

- (What If) A River Runs Through It: Salvaging Water-Affected Audiovisual Materials
- [AV Identification and Salvage Workshop Handouts (HUID access only)](https://harvardwiki.atlassian.net/wiki/x/xI0GCQ)
- [Guidelines for Managing Mold Contamination](/managing-mold-contamination)
- [Hurricane Preparedness](https://wiki.harvard.edu/confluence/display/librarypreservation/Hurricane%20Preparedness)

## See Also

- [Emergency Response](/emergencies)
- [LCET wiki](https://harvardwiki.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/HLPP/pages/151420931/LCET%20Library%20Collections%20Emergency%20Team) (team members only)