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PLEASE CHECK ON TCA’s HOMEPAGE – LOWER LEFT
If there is a current disaster declaration for Texas, the latest information will be found there.
In the event you or your organization are significantly impacted by a disaster, please let TCA know.
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Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) always seeks to connect the field to the resources. Please reach out to TCA staff if you or your organization sustained major impact from a natural disaster, accident, or emergency.
STATE ASSISTANCE
In addition to being a conduit for state and federal resources, TCA partners with other agencies to provide disaster relief grants to the arts and cultural industry during times of disaster. These grants are often dependent upon outside funding and are available on a disaster-by-disaster basis.
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
Arts organizations, cultural institutions, and artists and performing groups impacted by a disaster are encouraged to fill out one of the following Rapid Damage Assessment Forms (estimated time 8-15 minutes to complete). Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) will use this information to expedite appropriate help.
· Cultural Institutions
· Arts Organizations
· Individual Artists and Performing Groups
An Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief was put together by the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER) to help the arts industry navigate federal support systems.
- The Field Guide is designed to help arts organizations, businesses, artists, and cultural workers understand what is available and decide if pursuing federal aid makes sense for them.
- It gives a snapshot of federal disaster assistance programs that can go into effect after a presidentially declared disaster.
- The guide can also be found on the NCAPER website here.
- La traducción en español de Una Guía en el Campo de las Artes está disponible en el sitio web de NCAPER. Traducida por Sandra Marulanda.
FEMA General Guidelines for Applying for Aid:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Individual Assistance (i.e., artists): Generally 30 days after the presidential disaster declaration
- Public Assistance (i.e., organizations): Generally 60 days after the presidential disaster declaration
HELPFUL TIPS & RESOURCES
- FEMA has reformed and streamlined their individual assistance for disaster survivors.
- FEMA has a detailed guide to their Public Assistance Program Delivery Process.
- Texas Division of Emergency Management is coordinating the state response to this disaster and holds regular briefings.
- The National Heritage Responders, a team of trained conservators and collections care professionals are available 24/7 to provide advice and guidance. Call the hotline: 202-661-8068.
- National Heritage Responders have developed brief Tip Sheets to help collecting institutions respond to and recover from events.
- TX-CERA (Texas Collections Emergency Resource Alliance) a non-profit organization that serves as an educational resource for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for Texas cultural institutions can be contacted for assistance: tx.cera@gmail.com or 669-237-2243.
- Houston Arts Alliance has developed a collection of resources called Disaster Resilience for Artists & Non-Profits
- Arts Organizations at a Crossroads Toolkit: Managing Transitions and Preserving Assets was put together by National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER)
- Members of the public who have questions about saving family heirlooms can email the National Heritage Responders at NHRpublichelpline@culturalheritage.org
- Preservation Matters program offers step-by-step briefs on salvaging different types of materials (books, fabric, and photographs) damaged by water.
- Heritage Emergency National Task Force has provided guidance about saving heirlooms via Save Your Family Treasures | FEMA.gov. This information is available in multiple languages. Two are available below:
