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The Smithsonian expresses its heartfelt
concern and sympathy for those directly affected by
Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Smithsonian staff are contributing
to the national relief effort for the Gulf Coast in
a variety of ways.
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The Smithsonian is an active member of the Heritage
Emergency National Task Force. The Task Force, an
initiative of Heritage
Preservation and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is a partnership
of 40 government agencies and national service organizations
that promotes disaster preparedness and provides expert
information on response and salvage. Serving as a nationwide
network, Task Force members are working with FEMA preservation
officers, state / local agencies and institutions in the
affected areas, and professional organizations to share
information and coordinate the national response effort. |
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Smithsonian staff are providing technical assistance
and guidance to cultural institutions, scientific organizations,
Smithsonian
Affiliates, and the general public to help preserve
collections and family heirlooms damaged by the storms. |
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The Smithsonian has established a Collections Task
Force to organize the Institution’s collective
response to affected museums and organizations requiring
assistance. Smithsonian efforts are being coordinated
with those of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force.
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Conservation and preservation staff are distributing
written technical guidance on how to assess, salvage,
handle, and care for damaged materials. |
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An internal group of Smithsonian employees with family
members or friends in the Gulf Coast has been established
to share information, provide support, and discuss ways
in which Smithsonian staff can help. |
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Smithsonian collecting units have identified Smithsonian
collections on loan to various institutions in the Gulf
Region, assessed their current status, and have scheduled
the retrieval of some objects which are at risk. |
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The National
Museum of American History has begun a collecting
initiative to document Hurricane Katrina and the national
tragedy which followed as a historic event. NMAH is seeking
to build a focused collection of artifacts and photography
that reflect specific aspects of the hurricane's impact
along the Gulf coast, the rescue of survivors, and the
recovery of local communities. Objects, photographs and
documents will be preserved permanently in the National
Museum of American History and will help future historians
and visitors to comprehend the natural disaster, its effects
and the long-term consequences. The museum's collection
efforts as well as the recording of oral histories will
be coordinated with other museums, historical organizations
and universities in Louisiana, Mississippi and elsewhere. |
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The National Museum of American History is partnering
with the Center for History and New Media at George Mason
University and the University of New Orleans on the Hurricane
Digital Memory Bank: Preserving Stories from Katrina,
Rita, and Wilma. This project uses electronic media to
collect, preserve, and present the stories, images, and
responses of the devastating 2005 hurricane season. |
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The Smithsonian has issued a health and safety advisory
to staff who may be involved with emergency response and
recovery efforts. It has also issued guidelines for the
acquisition and recovery of collections from disaster
areas. |
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