On April 14-16, 2011, at least 153 confirmed tornadoes led to severe destruction across 14 U.S. states in one of the largest single-system tornado outbreaks in the country’s history.
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A good plan can determine whether a cultural collection survives a disaster or fades into memory. And while nature can be unpredictable, the online disaster-planning portal “dPlan” offers a streamlined, reliable way for institutions to protect their cultural collections. Created through funding by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, dPlan is a free, online tool that allows cultural institutions to complete a customizable disaster plan for their organizations. NEDCC, a nonprofit regional center for the preservation and conservation of paper-based materials, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), developed the tool.
Read more →Since the summer of 2010, NCPTT has been actively researching the removal of crude oil from objects and sites of cultural significance, such as Fort Livingston. This 19th century coastal fort on Grand Terre Island, Louisiana, was badly contaminated by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Our scientists visited the site twice last year to perform some preliminary studies on oil removal, and this summer I have been continuing with research on removing weathered oil from historic brick. The goal is to find a cleaning method that effectively strips the oil from the masonry without causing additional harm to either the structure or the environment.
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In the wake of recent oil spills, many in the public sector recognized a need for concise, reliable information to protect cultural heritage from the long-term effects of crude oil. In particular, government officials, archeologists, and preservation professionals wanted to know the risks associated with crude oil contamination on buried and submerged archeological objects and [...]
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NCPTT made a second visit to Fort Livingston, Grand Terre Island, in September, 2010. Eight surface washing agents were tested for their effectiveness in removing weathered crude oil from the brick masonry at the fort. A few of the products tested were somewhat effective, removing approximately 50% to 70% of the surface soiling from the brick surface. None of the products tested to date provided excellent results, similar to pre-oiling conditions.
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A free webinar session at the 29th International Submerged Lands Management Conference will address cultural resources. This session will cover issues surrounding the assessment of injury and damage to submerged cultural resources from oil or chemical spills, groundings, looting or any other man-made impact. The speakers will discuss the various methodologies that are used to conduct [...]
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This document is written as general guidance for property owners, as well as state and federal officials, for the care of historic structures facing the impact of oil contamination from releases of crude oil in marine and terrestrial environments, whether from oil tankers, drilling rigs, wells, offshore platforms, or pipeline breaks and failures.
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The effects of oil contamination on cultural resources will continue to be a challenge to the Gulf Coast region for years to come. NCPTT is meeting this challenge with technical research support for state and federal land managers, and for the public.
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These maps are provided courtesy of the Cultural Resources Geographic Information System Facility (CRGIS) which aggregates data from several sources as noted below. Certain sensitive sites, such as archeological sites, are not displayed. Additional resources:
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NCPTT has prepared an interactive map showing Gulf Coast cultural resources within the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) zone. This zone is established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
This map below plots resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes National Park Service sites and National Historic Landmarks.
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