In addition to lives,
homes, and businesses, Natural Disasters threaten landmarks, museums, and
storage facilities—such as the major auction houses and galleries—that house
countless pieces of cultural patrimony.
Sandy’s impact has resulted (thus far) in a death count of 74 in the
U.S., 8.5 million people across 17 states without power, and damages estimated
at $20 billion in NYC alone; in addition, Breezy Point, Queens, was ravaged by
fire and many Jersey Shore landmarks, including Funtown Pier in Seaside
Heights, were decimated. Luckily, the
Smithsonian Institution’s museums and National Zoo were able to reopen after
two days and report that all facilities in Maryland and Virginia weathered the
storm in good condition; thanks to the maintenance staff on hand all leaks were
diverted with sandbags, leaving the collections undamaged. The devastation incurred and the number of
close calls prompts us to consider what measures we can take to protect
citizens, property, and both man made cultural and natural heritage.
An example of
preemptive measures taken to protect art and antiquities came from the Chicago Conservation Center. Fearing the effects
of Sandy would be felt as far inland as the Midwest, the Conservation Center
sent out e-blasts warning against the danger of flood-damage to works of
art. In preparation, the Conservation
Center set up a “Hurricane Sandy 24/7 Disaster Response Service” to help
clients safeguard their collections, endeavoring to fulfill its mission of
“Conserving Art from Coast to Coast.”
Hurricane Sandy is a
reminder that destruction can be wrought by nature itself; it is also a
reminder that we cannot always be 100% prepared, so we must be vigilant. What sort of protection against natural
disasters can we offer? How are we to pick up and reassemble the pieces?
Learn about the framework for Cultural Intelligence.
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