Disaster Preparedness & Recovery
Disaster Recovery Kit for Archival & Heritage Collections
AKA "The Aftermath Kit"
Any CNSA member institution can borrow this kit, or parts thereof, following an emergency or disaster that affects their collections. The supplies are intended to help members stabilize the environment in the collections storage area(s), protect and salvage collections, as well as remedy damage to collections caused by water, dirt, smoke, mould, and/or pests.
Please see the videos, leaflets, and guides at the bottom of this page for salvage and recovery methods and techniques.
Supplies in the Kit
Loan Terms and Agreement
CNSA Members can borrow the entire Kit or just parts of it for up to 30 days. The loan can be renewed provided no other member is need of the Kit. Please see full details in the Loan Agreement below.
Collecting and Returning the Kit
Members must collect the Kit from the CNSA office at 6016 University Ave, Halifax, NS, or make delivery arrangements. Members are responsible for returning the Kit to the CNSA office on or before the loan term has ended, which is typically 30 days. Please see full details in the Loan Agreement below.
Replacing Supplies
Members are accountable for the replacement cost of all consumable supplies that they use from the Kit, such as gloves, masks, blotting paper, absorbents, insect traps, and garbage bags – see the full list at then end of the Loan Agreement below. If any of the reusable supplies in the kit are damaged beyond usability, the borrowing member will also be responsible for the cost of their replacement.
Once the Kit is returned to the CNSA Office, it will be inventoried and a list of supplies that need replacing will be sent to the member for approval. The CNSA will then send the member an invoice once replacement supplies have been ordered and/or purchased. Please see full details in the Loan Agreement below.
Disaster Kits for CNSA Members
If you received one of the Disaster Kits we created for members in 2023, below you will find a downloadable checklist for inventorying the supplies in your kit plus copies of the instructions for use.
If you're interested in expanding the supplies in your kit, check out the link below – there are lots of options worth considering!
DIY Disaster Kit
Didn't get a Disaster Kit or want to replenish or augment the supplies you have? Click on the list below to see comparable supplies available at most Canadian Tire stores!
How-To Videos
How to Handle Wet Paper
How to Dry Wet Records
How to Pack Wet Records
How to Remove Mould from Paper