disaster planning and control - International Records Management ...

ACTIVITIES: COMMENTS
Activity 34
Every institution will find itself at a different stage of development in terms of
emergency planning. The priorities established will have to take into account the
particular needs of that institution, and especially the possible threats to the
institution, the country and the region. It is important to identify possible threats so
that the institution is aware of the potential dangers it faces. Then it is important to
protect records against those threats, and then identify vital records. Finally, it is also
important to develop a formalised plan for emergency management, so that all
policies and procedures are documented and everyone knows what to do in the event
of an emergency.
Activity 35
If resources are limited, it is wise to communicate with international organisations
first, as they often obtain and filter information from national or regional associations.
Thus valuable information is passed on to your organisation through the international
group, which can save resources for all. It is also advisable to focus on general
emergency and vital records management information before obtaining specialised
publications or information.
Activity 36
As mentioned in relation to the previous activity, it is important to begin with general
information and ensure you have a good resource library of introductory and overview
publications before developing a more specialised library.
EMERGENCY PLANNING FOR RECORDS AND ARCHIVES SERVICES
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