See also: The Basics: Safety Comes First
Essential business items (Vital Records and Documents)
Your Studio Protector “Getting Help” booklet or a D.I.Y. Artist Emergency Kit
Medical items for you and your family
Disaster supplies (if you are going to a public shelter, bring your own clothes, bedding, food, personal items and disaster supply kit)
Easily portable art supplies and tools, sketchbook, cameras, equipment or instruments
A “Watch” means an event, such as a flood, is possible in your area
A “”Warning” means the event is already occurring in your area
Water or Wind Event Exterior:
Screw plywood over windows (or permanent storm shutters if you have them).
Use tape on windows to reduce shattering.
Sandbag doorways and perimeter (hurricane or flooding)
Bring outdoor art objects (if easily movable) inside.
Lock the entrance(s).
Interior:
Unplug equipment and all cable connections (phone, computer, modem, printer, network) to protect from lightning strikes.
Move items to a higher floor if possible and wrap in heavy plastic.
Avoid attic and the basement area (if flooding is a possibility) for storage.
Get items at least 1 ft. off the floor and away from windows.
Wrap shelves, storage units, computers and other equipment in heavy plastic. Secure with waterproof tape.
Wildfires or other fires with advance warning Exterior:
Move gas, fuels, oils and other chemicals—including propane bottles—away from the structure.
Clear a fire-safety zone of 30 feet around the perimeter.
Connect water hoses to spigots to put out small fires.
Secure your studio (see below Tips for Securing Your Studio).
Keep tuned into the local Emergency Alert System (EAS) Channel, and plan two possible evacuation routes.
Let your Disaster Buddy know where you’re going and possible routes.
Turn on call forwarding on your business landline to your cell phone.
Pick and pack up easily portable tools or instruments.
Get gas for your car. (Stations on evacuation routes often run out.)
Transport easily portable artwork and tools to a prearranged off-site location.
Assemble what you’ll be taking along, and determine how it can be packed most efficiently into your vehicle.
Confirm procedures for securing your workspace and shutting down operations with assistants, family or co-tenants.
Review the post-disaster meeting place and/or contact system.
These web resources have useful tips and diagrams for correctly building a sandbag dike:
“Protecting structures with sandbags”
“Sandbagging for Flood Protection”