Hurricane Florence Threatens Eastern Seaboard

by Arian D Ravanbakhsh, posted in Records Disaster Preparedness

Hurricane Florence is steadily pushing toward the mid-Carolinas according to the latest data from weather forecasters. The NOAA Forecast Map from earlier today posted below shows the likely path of this dangerous storm. Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall later this week, possibly as a Category 4 hurricane.

Image showing Hurricane Florence forecast map from the National Hurricane Center
Hurricane Florence 5 Day Cone Forecast Map

In advance of Hurricane Florence, we remind federal agencies of important records emergency information (https://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/essential-records) and other useful guidance.

Depending on the damage caused by the hurricane, it may be necessary for your agency to implement a records recovery operation. Water damage will likely be the major records recovery issue. We also have information available to assist federal records managers in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an emergency.

  1. RECORDS RECOVERY – NARA’s Preservation Division provides information on their website to assist Federal records managers in preparing for, responding to and recovering from an emergency.
  2. RECORDS EMERGENCY DISPOSAL – Before agencies destroy contaminated records, NARA approval must be obtained. For more details on this process, see NARA’s information about emergency disposal.
  3. UNAUTHORIZED DISPOSAL OF RECORDS – Federal agencies are required to notify the Archivist of any unauthorized disposal of records in the custody of the agency. For more details about this process, see NARA’s information about unauthorized disposition.
  4. INFORMATION SECURITY – For advice and assistance on issues concerning classified national security information, please contact the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO): 202-357-5250 or via email at ISOO@nara.gov.
  5. ESSENTIAL RECORDS GUIDE – The management of essential records is part of every Federal agency’s emergency preparedness responsibility. The Essential Records Guide addresses the identification and protection of records containing information that Federal agencies may need to conduct business under emergency operating conditions or to protect the legal and financial rights of the Federal Government and the people it serves.

For advice and assistance on other records management issues arising from the storm, please contact the appraisal archivist assigned to your agency. Please see this list of agency staff assignments and points of contact.