Public Libraries Aid Communities and Evacuees to Respond to Hurricanes

1. Review what other public libraries do:
   • The key roles played;
   • Their best practices;
   • Available resources.
2. Assess library capacity to fulfill potential roles:
   • What library currently does;
   • Infrastructure needed;
   • Staff issues;
   • Policies & procedures.
3. Understand local disaster response context:
   • Local government role;
   • Emergency Management & FEMA role and focus;
   • Other responder roles.
4. Choose public library hurricane roles advised by local government & Emergency Management (EM)

Public Libraries Play Key Roles to Aid Community and Evacuee Hurricane Response

Key disaster roles that public libraries may perform include:

1. Offer a Safe Haven
2. Provide Normal Service in an abnormal time
3. Be a Disaster Recovery Center
4. Serve as an Information Hub
5. Be a Cultural Organizations Liaison
6. Be an Evacuee Resource
7. Improvise as needed

Pick a role that your library might play and explore their best practices and resources.

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