NCAPER's response information page is a vital lifeline for artists and arts organizations seeking disaster assistance. This comprehensive resource includes essential contact details for requesting help, assessment forms for carefully documenting damages, and a valuable directory of key contacts within FEMA and related agencies. Serving as a centralized hub, it becomes a crucial one-stop destination for obtaining necessary resources and guidance in times of emergency or disaster.

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Especially noteworthy is the fact that communication and information technology often become limited in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. This can leave artists, cultural workers, and arts leaders displaced and struggling to support their colleagues and communities. In response to this challenge, NCAPER offers Response Calls/Zooms as a critical tool. These sessions provide a platform for affected individuals to connect, openly discuss their status and urgent needs, and engage in meaningful conversations with experienced NCAPER representatives who have faced similar situations. These knowledgeable representatives excel at identifying available resources and providing well-informed recommendations, making them invaluable assets for individuals and communities navigating the complex path of disaster recovery.

 

Disaster and Policy Timeline
This timeline highlights significant and selected crises affecting the arts and how those have driven changes in arts funding and policy over the last 50 years. Link HERE

The Disaster Management Cycle
NCAPER works throughout the standard disaster management cycle, which has been developed by FEMA and other emergency management professionals. Link HERE

Resources One-Pager
Access 10 key arts/emergency resources via QR codes on this handy resource! Link HERE
 

Response Calls

Hurricane Helene Response Calls will begin Tuesday, October 8, 5:00-5:45PM ET for all affected states. Those who were impacted and those who wish to help
are welcome. Email jnewcomb@ncaper.org to receive the schedule and Zoom login information.

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National Dislocated Worker Grant Information
This program provides funds to nonprofits and small businesses to hire workers to assist with recovery from the disaster. The objective is to employ those who have lost work or been dislocated due to the disaster while contributing to the physical and economic recovery of the area. Artists and arts/cultural nonprofits may be able to access this program to employ artists in recovery efforts. Download this NCAPER Briefing Paper.

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This resource can help demystify the process and explain how you can benefit from available federal funding to help your organization recover.

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FEMA Assistance
You should, as soon as you are able, determine if your location has received a Presidential Disaster Declaration and, if so, register for public assistance. This federal government site guides you to FEMA disaster assistance and other resources to help you recover. Declarations are created and updated over time, so check this site for updates.
 

Current state-by-state FEMA information:
Florida
Georgia

North Carolina
South Carolina

Tennessee

Virginia
You and/or your organization may be eligible for FEMA assistance if you are in an area designated under a presidentially declared disaster.

FEMA Public Assistance Guidance

Following a major disaster, federal funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program is available to help cultural institutions and arts organizations recover. The PA process may seem challenging for private nonprofits to navigate, especially if this is the first time your organization has suffered damage following a major disaster. But it’s important: don’t miss the chance to access funds that are meant specifically for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations! Assistance may help with the cost of disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures to protect life and property, and permanent repair work to damaged or destroyed infrastructure, which can include the repair or replacement of collections.

This HENTF Public Assistance Webinar recording: “Navigating Public Assistance for the Arts & Culture Sector” on YouTube can help demystify the process and explain how you can benefit from available federal funding to help your organization recover. This webinar, presented by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) at the request of the Vermont Arts & Culture Disaster and Resilience Network (VACDaRN), will explain:

• The PA process as it applies specifically to the arts and culture sector and why you need to apply for an SBA loan first.

• The assistance available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and why the word “loan” should not stop you in your tracks.

• Measures that you may have taken or will take that may be eligible for reimbursement through Public Assistance.

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Also available: PDF of the webinar slides and expanded Question and Answer document 

Because this webinar was directed to Vermont arts organizations and cultural institutions, for a disaster over a year ago, the specific locations, dates, and contact points are irrelevant to Southeastern cultural stewards and some of the processes may be different for Hurricane Helene. Here is an overview of the Public Assistance Program Delivery Process.

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Fire Salvage Resources
Free webinars on Salvaging Fire-Damaged Items. Learn from conservation and preservation professionals from the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation's National Heritage Responders program. By registering, you will be able to attend any of the live webinars in the series and view the recordings of each after the live event.

“Salvaging Smoke/Soot-Affected Materials: The Dirty Details” is a 13-minute video from the Smithsonian PRICE program, with a corresponding handout HERE 
FEMA After the Fire tip sheet

The Soot and Ash segment from the Field Guide to Emergency Response (7 minutes)

NCAPER’s free Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Response helps artists and arts organizations understand the various programs – FEMA, Small Business Administration, and more – you may be able to access. Available in English and Spanish.

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Rapid Damage Assessment
Three online surveys – one for arts organizations, one for individual artists and performing groups, and one for cultural institutions (libraries, archives, museums) – are now available. Please complete the relevant survey so that the arts and culture response community, with support from the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), can address the damage caused by the crisis you experienced by helping us understand and share with FEMA where assistance is sought, the critical needs, and inform how recovery efforts move forward. The survey should take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete.

Arts Organizations: HERE
Artists and Performing Groups: HERE
Cultural Institutions: HERE

Please complete this NCAPER/HENTF survey just once. Please distribute it broadly to others in the arts community. If you have completed a survey from another source, we would appreciate you also submitting information to us.

 

If you are not able to complete the survey online, please email info@ncaper.org to request a paper copy.