The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities will continue to share resources with cultural institutions and organizations for flood relief, as we receive notice. Our thoughts and well wishes go out to the many Louisiana residents and institutions affected by the recent flooding.
The National Heritage Responders and the Heritage Emergency Task Force are offering free emergency response assistance to cultural institutions with collections affected by the recent flooding. Institutions such as museums, libraries, municipal offices, historical societies, arboreta, zoos, and others may be eligible for this federal disaster aid if they have suffered damage and are located in a declared emergency parish. There are now 12 declared parishes in Louisiana, with the possibility of additional declarations to come: Acadia, Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tangipahoa and Vermilion.
The Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) has posted a Resource Page, including a flood response forum, access to volunteer opportunities (to request or offer assistance), and to Good360 (register to request or to offer goods and services). Contact LANO staff with specific questions at info@lano.org.
The Arts Council of New Orleans has resources for artists and craftspeople affected by this disaster. Contact Justine Bird for more information.
The National Heritage Responders are supported and managed by the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation. In 2007 and again in 2010, FAIC received funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to support an advanced training program for conservators and other preservation professionals that resulted in a force of 107 “second responders” trained to assess damage and initiate salvage of cultural collections after a disaster. For the Baton Rouge National Heritage Responders flood relief press release, click here.
The Heritage Emergency National Task Force, co-sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Smithsonian Institution, is a partnership of 42 federal agencies and national service organizations created to protect cultural heritage from natural disasters and other emergencies. They have supported Louisiana following many disasters, including hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Isaac, and other flooding events. For the FEMA flood fact sheet and resources, click here.
LANO is a statewide member organization that advocates for the nonprofit community and strengthens the effectiveness of those committed to improving Louisiana.