Sometimes an emergency truly is major. In these cases, the library or museum will need quick access to more recovery supplies than can be kept on hand in the disaster kit. Large institutions such as universities or hospitals usually have plastic trash bags, .i.milk crates; or other containers, .i.wet/dry vacuums; and portable generators, among other useful things. In fact, big institutions are amazingly self-contained and normally purchase a variety of supplies in large, economical quantities. The disaster planner must find out exactly where they are and also the correct protocol for having them brought in a hurry. Good working relationships established with people in other departments during the planning process will be a tremendous asset during response to a disaster.

When it is obvious that the quantity of affected materials is more than can be handled in-house, contact one or more recovery firms to dry out the building and to dry, freeze, or reprocess materials. A brief description of various companies is included in Section 6, p. 82.