Importance of Emergency Preparedness for Cultural Museums

Abstract

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (DuSable) in Chicago, Illinois, has received threats in person and via mail from individuals and groups who disagree with the museum's mission. The museum's mission is "dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation, study and the dissemination of the history and culture of Africans and African Americans" (The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, n.d., Our Mission). The threats received have directly implied that the sender planned to cause harm to the facility and the museum's occupants, which poses a risk to the museum's day-to-day operations. Knowing these threats, the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center must have the appropriate Emergency Preparedness measures, including security management, fire protection, and an emergency response plan to mitigate risk to its facility, collections, and occupants.

Studying cultural museum emergency preparedness aims to identify and assess the various threats to the safety and security of museum collections, the facility, visitors, and staff. By understanding the emergency preparedness needs of museums, specifically cultural museums, appropriate measures can be implemented to prevent and deter physical harm. The emergency preparedness plan must include physical security measures, including security staff, access controls, surveillance, and fire protection systems.

The minimum safety measures for a museum include a fire protection system equipped with smoke alarms, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers. Access control should consist of a security system controlling access to restricted areas, including physical guards and electronic surveillance, depending on the access needs. A surveillance system should include closed-circuit or wireless cameras to monitor the interior and exterior of the building. Security personnel is needed in the security system and serve as in-person deterrents in the case of an incident. An emergency response plan is also necessary to plan for and mitigate risks in an organized manner.