dPlan: The Online Disaster-Planning Tool for Cultural & Civic Institutions

This tutorial provides an online tool that assists in writing a detailed disaster plan customized to the specific parameters of an institution. It can be accessed through the website of dPlan.

The tutorial has been jointly funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT). The technology platform has been developed by Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC). dPlan offers an online template that prompts user to fill in relevant information to design an effective disaster management plan. The website states that dPlan can only be used by non-profit organizations including museums, libraries, and historical societies.

 Some of the outputs generated by dPlan are:

• Contact information of staff and key personnel
• Preventive maintenance checklists
• Salvage techniques