Disaster Response Initiative Task Group (DRI)

 
The Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Disaster Response Initiative (DRI) Task Group, which is currently being spearheaded by the Preservation Engineering Technical Committee (PETC), has been active in researching and developing strategies for education, partnership and outreach.  The DRI is focusing on bringing awareness to heritage structures that are vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters.  This initiative was created by the request of the APT President (Dean Koga) at the 2017 Ottawa Conference in an effort to utilize APT’s technical strengths and resources in the preservation of heritage structures.  Our goals are to aid local and federal governments and like-minded organizations currently involved in disaster response.  The task group is also exploring how best to prepare at-risk communities in light of these hazards.

Major Current Initiatives

  • Database of FEMA/ATC trained disaster responders (click here to volunteer as an APT Disaster Responder and be added the database).
  • Whitney Plantation, Edgard, Louisiana, Hurricane Ida Disaster Response

Past Accomplishments

  • Establish DRI framework
  • Provided representation at Annual Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) Meeting on July 26, 2018
  • Presented at Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit on November 7, 2018
  • Developed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC)
  • Initiated partnership discussion with Florida Structural Engineers Association (FSEA)
  • Provided disaster training workshop at APT Miami Conference in 2019
  • Established relationships with U.S. State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and Canadian equivalents
  • For additional DRI accomplishments, please see the PETC Reports, Meeting Minutes, and News

Partnerships

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC)
Applied Technology Council (ATC)
Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF)

 

Co-Chairs:
Sarah Gray
Rachel Will

Amy Woods

Cultural Heritage Disaster Response Resources

For more information or to get involved, please contact us at [email protected].

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