[BCMA MBEN] Tracking Flood Costs?

[Jim Harding]

Dear Members & Subscribers;

We continue to watch news coverage closely on the BC flood situation 
and collectively hold our breath...although the threat seems to have 
peaked...

Through numerous side conversations and direct email inquiries, it has 
been suggested that those museums and institutions that have been 
either threatened or affected by flooding to ensure their local 
authorities are kept abreast of your situation.

Also, institutions are advised to track the costs to their institutions 
directly resulting from flooding and precautionary, response and 
recovery measures your institution has taken or will be taking. 
This is important to establishing a legitimate record that would help 
substantiate possible future claims for assistance from the Provincial 
Emergency Program--which may have to be filed through local 
authorities.  

Tracked costs would include:
- staff time spent responding to the threat; 
- second copies of invoices for all goods and services costs incurred, 
(ie. truck rentals for moving collections, materials, etc)

...as well as those costs specific to your own situation.

I invite those at affected institutions to update and advise us on BCMA-
L as to your situation now; response from local officials; whether you 
have put an impact tracking system in place; and whether you have 
received any indication from local officials that assistance will be made 
available.

Also, so that those not affected by this spring's flooding may 
understand better the seriousness of this situation and the need for 
disaster preparedness plans for each and every institution, we would 
welcome postings or direct emails of any digital photos that could be 
shared.

Thanks and Congratulations to all of you for your quick action.
--Jim
_______________________________
Jim Harding, ED
BC Museums Association
(250) 356-5694