A professional assessment has begun of the damage and loss to cultural properties in New York and Washington resulting from the September 11th attacks. Leading the survey of the affected museums, libraries, archives, and historic sites is the National Task Force on Emergency Response, a coalition of federal agencies and private non-profit organizations under the leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Heritage Preservation, Inc., a Washington based non-profit dedicated to the conservation of the nation’s cultural heritage.

The survey, under the guidance of conservators, will examine the responses, needs, and requirements for recovery of the affected institutions, collections, artifacts and historic properties. Preparedness for future emergencies will also be a major focus. Funding is being provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Bay Foundation of New York City. “We need concerned professionals to gather the facts and information as well as the damage reports from the people responsible for caring for the affected cultural properties. To obtain an authoritative, coherent report it is important that the survey should not only describe what has been lost and damaged but also restoration efforts, and what emergency response strategies have proved to be useful,” said Robert Ashton, Executive Director of the Bay Foundation.

In addition to surveying collecting institutions, the Task Force will evaluate the status of the 245 pieces of outdoor sculpture in Lower Manhattan. The report will also document the impact of the disaster on other public art along with privately owned historic buildings, archives and art collections. An assessment of damage to the Pentagon Library, and other artifacts in the Pentagon, will also be included. The report will be issued in the spring of 2002.

"In the wake of September 11, we at NEH want to offer support to the New York cultural community," said George Farr, director of the Division of Preservation and Access at the National Endowment for the Humanities. "The NEH emergency grant to Heritage Preservation will help record the impact of this unprecedented disaster on New York's cultural resources and identify the most useful recovery strategies."

The National Task Force on Emergency Response was established in 1995 and is cosponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Heritage Preservation, Inc. The Task Force, a coalition of 30 national organizations and federal agencies helps collecting institutions and communities protect their precious cultural and historic resources from damage caused by disasters. It also provides information to the public. Its guidelines on cleaning soot, dust, and debris, developed after September 11, can be found here.

Inquires regarding the report may be sent to Ruth Hargraves, the project coordinator, at rhargraves@heritagepreservation.org. or 202/634-1422.

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