Leveraging Libraries and Librarians to Improve Disaster Readiness in our Nation’s Libraries and Our Communities Dan Wilson, Coordinator NN/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Initiative

Dan Wilson Assoc. Dir. for Collections & Library Services / University of Virginia Health Sciences Library 2007 – Coordinator, NN/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Initiative Member, UVA Health System Emergency Management Workgroup Steering Committee, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Steering Committee, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) To advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing all U.S. health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and improving the public's access to information to enable them to make informed decisions about their health. The Program is coordinated by the National Library of Medicine and carried out through a nationwide network of health science libraries and information centers.

Map of NN/LM Regions

Mission of the NN/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Initiative To aide the welfare of a community or parent institution following a disaster by ensuring access to health information and core library resources to health professionals, library patrons, and the public.

3 Objectives 1.Help libraries create a one page disaster plan for continuity of services following a disaster and develop a disaster readiness culture 2.Help libraries partner with emergency planners in order to improve disaster preparedness & response in their community 3.Encourage librarians to explore ways that they can leverage their information gathering skills to the emergency response community, such as the American Red Cross, Medical Reserve Corps, and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

Objective #1 Help libraries create a one page disaster plan for continuity of services following a disaster and develop a disaster readiness culture

Size of Pocket Response Plan

Pocket Response Plan page 1

Pocket Response Plan page 2

How to Develop a Disaster Readiness Culture What is your library’s Disaster Readiness Score?

Our Goal is for all Libraries to Score 10 or Above on These 12 Questions …

Questions for libraries part 1 1.Do you maintain core print materials that may be needed if power is down for an extended time or the Internet is compromised? 2.Are your online resources housed on servers with emergency backup power? 3.Do you have a response station that includes items such as flashlights, first aid kit, bullhorn, plastic, and a battery operated radio? 4.Do you provide situation awareness reporting (What, When, and Where)? 5.Does your Service Continuity Team practice 72-hour home preparedness? 6.Do you perform regular drills for how to respond to unplanned incidents based on risks?

Question for libraries part 2 7.Do you perform two tabletop exercises per year? 8.Do you initiate after-action reviews within 14 days following a service disruption? 9.Do you have a one-page service continuity plan that is updated at least twice per year? 10.Do you have a Mutual Aid Agreement for assistance in the delivery of core services? 11.Do you have a partnership with a commercial salvage and recovery company (e.g., Belfor, BMS, Munters) or a local preservationist for recovery of valuable/hard to replace materials? 12.Have you worked with local law enforcement to determine best practices for sheltering-in-place and for responding to unplanned emergency situations?

We Accomplish This Goal by Partnering with State Libraries

Current Partnerships New Jersey Ports in a Storm Conference Advanced training with cohort of 12 libraries Pennsylvania Summit meeting in State College Follow-up workshop being developed in Poconos Maryland Introduction to Initiative at Pratt Library in February Presented summits in Easton, Fredrick County, and Hagerstown North Carolina Developing a program for two locations in the spring Virginia Ongoing partnership with Cindy Church Meetings across state Co-speaker at conferences

Objective #2 Help libraries partner with emergency planners in order to improve disaster preparedness & response in their community

Libraries can Participate

Strategy Summit meeting at or near State Library Morning program composed of speakers from emergency planning community 3-hour afternoon workshop on creating a disaster readiness culture Follow-up training tailored to specific libraries/library networks Virtual table-top reviews

UVA Health System Emergency Management Workgroup UVA Health Sciences Library is designated as the Family Care Center in the event of an MCI (mass casualties incident)

Objective #3 Encourage librarians to explore ways that they can leverage their information gathering skills to the emergency response community, such as the American Red Cross, Medical Reserve Corps, and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

My Local Contributions Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteered to help with logistics during the Hannah Graham search 979-INFO training Member of the Steering Committee Charged with developing a local VOST Working with Scott Reuter and VOST community Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Currently a member benefiting from CE opportunities Recently invited to serve on Steering Committee

NN/LM Emergency Preparedness and Response Initiative

Disaster Information Management Research Center

Disaster Information Specialization Free and open to everyone!

My Contact Information Phone:

Questions? Thoughts? Ideas?