CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSE
A Series of Forums on Cultural Heritage and Disaster Management

The events of September 11 and Hurricane Katrina remind us that cultural icons are vulnerable to damage from terrorism and natural disasters.  However, we have learned that some basic measures can protect artistic and historic treasures against even the most devastating events.

The need for communication between cultural institutions, emergency managers and first responders is clear.  Since 2003, Alliance for Response forums have been bringing these parties together, to help forge working relationships before disaster strikes.

In 2006, the California Alliance for Response sponsored four one-day forums in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento, which brought more than 200 cultural institutions together with about 70 first responders.

This Spring 2007, a second wave of forums will be held in Sacramento (April 17), San Francisco (April 18), San Diego (May 22) and Los Angeles (May 24).  The 2007 Forums will focus on practical “next steps” in building more effective partnerships between the cultural and first responder communities.

The California Alliance for Response Forums are made possible with funding provided by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) as part of their commitment to disaster preparedness, response and mitigation.  OES intends to make these forums annual events with the assistance of private and public organizations: