Disaster Planning and Recovery for South Carolina State and Local Government Records

As part of its responsibilities for the management and retention of state agency and local government records, the SC Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) advises on and assists in disaster planning and recovery. Located here are contact information and resources to assist South Carolina state agency and local government officials in planning for possible disasters and to provide direction and other information on what is needed in the event of a disaster.

The SCDAH sponsors training on disaster preparedness and recovery, check our training page,  the SC SHRAB pages, or PALMCOP pages for upcoming sessions.

SC Archives Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Technical Leaflet This 23-page leaflet provides direction on all aspects of disaster planning and recovery. Included are appendices listing the recovery procedures best suited for different kinds of record media (for example paper, microform, and magnetic).

Are Your Files in Danger? Lessons learned from a recent pipe leak at a SC state agency

Disaster Recovery Services lists vendors both national and local in South Carolina who can provide assistance in disaster recovery. 

SC Disaster Case Study Consists of two articles on the May 18, 1998 fire that destroyed the Allendale County Courthouse and the efforts to salvage the county's records. Includes SCDAH advice for other government offices on how to prepare for disaster.

PALMCOP Website (Palmetto Archives, Libraries, and Museums Council on Preservation) contains useful information on planning for/coping with a disaster.  

CoSA Disaster Planning and Recovery This site has links to resources available from other state archives.

National Archives: Emergency Preparedness This site has much information that is useful for state and local governments as well as federal agencies.  

Heritage Emergency National Task Force Contains useful information and links to resources. 

Hurricane Response Since Hurricane Katrina, many archives, libraries and preservation organizations and individuals have established resource centers, blogs, and other ways to share information about what has happened to both individuals and archival collections as well as advice on how to respond.