From National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness: “Following the recent tornadoes, a major disaster declaration for Alabama was declared on January 15. All categories of Public Assistance (PA) have just opened up for 9 AL counties: Autauga, Barbour, Chambers, Conecuh, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Hale, and Tallapoosa. Private non-profit cultural institutions and arts organizations in these counties are now eligible to apply for repair of their facility as well as of any damaged collections materials.”

For Artists:
The Entertainment Community Fund – https://entertainmentcommunity.org/
MusiCares – https://www.musicares.org/
CERF+/The Artists Safety Net – https://cerfplus.org/
NYFA/New York Foundation for the Arts – https://www.nyfa.org/online-resources/emergency-resources/

For Organizations:
Cultural institutions and arts organizations can call the National Heritage Responders hotline: 202.661.8068. The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, are available 24/7 to provide phone advice and guidance.
Museums with damage to their collections may be eligible for FAIC funding/assistance for an assessment: https://www.culturalheritage.org/resources/collections-care/cap/emergency-cap.

For Funders:
Funders and service organizations can learn ways to streamline and expedite assistance to artists and organizations through The Essential Guidelines for Arts Responders Organizing in the Aftermath of Disaster – https://www.ncaper.org/post/essential-guidelines-for-arts-responders-organizing-in-the-aftermath-of-disaster.

For Everyone:
For questions about salvaging heirlooms and other objects/artifacts can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org, and HENTF’s (the Heritage Emergency National Task Force) Save Your Family Treasures guidance is available at https://www.fema.gov/assistance/save-family-treasures. Here you can find the downloadable FEMA fact sheets After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures and Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms, available in multiple languages.

You and/or your organization may be eligible for FEMA assistance if you are in an area designated under a presidentially-declared disaster. To help demystify federal disaster relief, read An Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief, available free online in English and Spanish: https://www.ncaper.org/general-8-1.

Preparedness Resources:
If you have not been affected, we encourage you to take some time to begin or update your Readiness Plan for your own organization or practice; resources include www.artsready.org and www.performingartsreadiness.org for organizations, and www.cerfplus.org for artists.