The National Park Service has announced the release of the “Before and After Disasters” guidance document, which lays out the federal aid available to historic preservation leaders in the aftermath of a federally declared disaster. This guidance document covers funding opportunities, agency contacts, documentation, and other information to guide preparedness, response, and recovery from natural disasters. [Read more…] about Heritage Sites: Guidance for Before and After Disasters
Disaster Management
Museums, Historical Societies: Be Prepared for Winter
I admit to being one of those people who perhaps overly prepares for winter in Upstate New York. We have a generator for our 200-year-old home because we live in a place where the power goes out. I have a “winter bag” with blankets, flashlight, water, and granola bars as well as a very large brush and ice scraper in my car.
In the Museum Association of New York office in Troy, we keep extra jackets on hand and cover the windows with plastic to hold back wind blowing off the Hudson River. [Read more…] about Museums, Historical Societies: Be Prepared for Winter
Historic Snowstorms of Central New York
Central New York is renowned as one of the snowiest regions in the world. In the past, major snowstorms have crippled cities, towns, and farming country for weeks at a time.
From the Lake Ontario port in Oswego to the busy streets of Syracuse and Utica, every community in the region has found themselves buried from brutal snowstorms. [Read more…] about Historic Snowstorms of Central New York
The Aftermath of The Hurricane of 1938
Much has been written about September 21st, 1938, the day that a massive hurricane hit Long Island. For Jonathan C. Bergman, the more interesting story began the day after.
His extensive research focused on the cleanup and disaster relief efforts orchestrated by a shifting network of Red Cross officials, New Deal workers, Suffolk County agencies, churchgoers, and volunteers. [Read more…] about The Aftermath of The Hurricane of 1938
MANY Update: Museums Conference Postponed, More
The Museum Association of New York’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to postpone the Annual Conference and Museum and Folk Art Forum until later in 2020.
An announcement sent to members and supporters said: “Although this decision was made because the health and well-being of our museum community comes first, it has severe financial consequences for the Museum Association of New York.”
[Read more…] about MANY Update: Museums Conference Postponed, More
Fire Damages Palisades Park Commission Building, Archives
A substantial fire has closed the 1920s Palisades Interstate Park New Jersey Park Headquarters building in Alpine, N.J., across the Hudson River from Yonkers. No one was hurt in the blaze, but one Park Commissioner has said some of the Commission’s on-site records have been destroyed. The building was significantly damaged.
“All the historic things in the building are lost forever – the chief’s records and the records are gone,” Palisades Park Commissioner Sophie Haymann said, standing outside the smoldering 100-year old building. The Commission’s archival holdings are a largely untapped Hudson Valley treasure, but most are stored off-site. [Read more…] about Fire Damages Palisades Park Commission Building, Archives
Sagamore Hill Fire Findings Released By Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) has released findings and a follow-up corrective action plan for the December 2018 visitor center fire at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, NY. The loss of the visitor center impacted the staff and operations at the park, as the building housed many aspects of park operations including staff, historic house tour ticket sales and a bookstore.
The NPS investigation into the cause of the fire was inconclusive, however they concluded that there did not appear to be any indications that it was intentionally caused. Several accidental causes of the fire were considered, including furnace malfunction, original equipment installation issues and storage practices. The report says the building had a monitored fire detection and alarm system and portable fire extinguishers and Park leadership and staff followed applicable NPS structural fire policies. [Read more…] about Sagamore Hill Fire Findings Released By Park Service
Navigating Disaster Recovery for Cultural Institutions
The University at Albany, University Libraries, the Capital District Library Council, the NY Capital Region Alliance for Response, and the New York State Education Department have announced a half-day seminar “After the Big One: Navigating Disaster Recovery for Cultural Institutions,” set for May 21st, 2019 from 8:30 am to 1 pm, at the University at Albany’s Science Library in the 3rd Floor Standish Room. [Read more…] about Navigating Disaster Recovery for Cultural Institutions
New Edition of Book On 1867 Angola Train Wreck
Charity Vogel’s new book The Angola Horror: The 1867 Train Wreck That Shocked the Nation and Transformed American Railroads (Cornell University Press, 2018) tells the gripping, true-to-life story of the wreck and the characters involved in the “Angola Horror.” [Read more…] about New Edition of Book On 1867 Angola Train Wreck
Crises, Problems and Historical Insights
How useful are historical insights in addressing a state’s problems?
California is experiencing a historic drought so severe that Governor Jerry Brown has ordered a 25% reduction in the use of water with some exceptions, e.g., certain types of agriculture. As California endures this crisis, how helpful is historical insight in both understanding it and charting a way forward? So far, the results are mixed. [Read more…] about Crises, Problems and Historical Insights