Disaster Resources 

Before, during, and after a natural disaster, the Alabama Historical Commission wants you to be ready!  

From an abundance of information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Park Service to the practical advice of preservationists, we've collected some of the best weather preparedness resources so that you can safeguard your historic site.  

Preventing Disaster Damage to Your Historic Building

Responding to Disaster Damage to Your Historic Building

Recovering from Disaster Damage to Your Historic Building

Resilient Heritage: Protecting Your Home from Natural Disasters

Combined Building and Site Condition Assessment Form

When Disaster Strikes Historic Cemeteries

 

Click here for Alabama Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes (March 24-27, 2023) Assistance

To see if your area has been declared for FEMA Individual Assistance, click here.

Apply for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

 

Recovery and Reporting Damages

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training has assembled a number of articles detailing the needs of your specific type of historic site.

Guidelines on Flood Adaptation for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a partnership between FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, has a number of fact sheets to help the public recover treasured family belongings that might have been damaged by the storm:

After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures

Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms

Additional resources can be found on HENTF’s website:

Resources for the Public and Historic Property Owners

HENTF can help provide technical assistance to impacted cultural institutions and arts organizations before a major disaster is declared. If you know of an institution that suffered damage, please email lori.foley@fema.dhs.gov. Knowing who has been impacted assists in “situational awareness” so HENTF can better understand the full impact of the storm on cultural and historic resources and be ready to direct cultural stewards to specific resources for response and recovery. If a major disaster is declared for your state, HENTF wants to be able to direct them to apply for federal funding via FEMA’s Public Assistance Program.’s Public Assistance Program.

For more information, contact Paige Thomas at 334-230-2643 or Paige.Thomas@ahc.alabama.gov.