"Ready—Or Not": Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness

Join the "Ready — Or Not" Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project for an informative webinar about risk assessment for libraries and the multiple free disaster preparedness services the project has to offer. 

Emergency Preparedness Consultant Megan Dirickson will focus on risk assessment tools and disaster plan writing with Outreach and Travel Coordinator Celeste Knight discussing the scope of the project. 

Discover how cultural heritage organizations in California can get involved and bring any questions you may have on library risk assessment and the "Ready — Or Not"  Project!

Presenter:

Megan Dirickson, Emergency Preparedness Consultant

As part of the "Ready—Or Not" Training Programs team, Megan Dirickson provides emergency preparedness consulting and training to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Based in San Diego, CA, Megan joined NEDCC in 2024 and transferred to the RON team in 2025. In her initial role as an Associate Preservation Specialist, Megan presented hands-on disaster salvage and recovery workshops, consulted with organizations to complete disaster plans, and delivered online trainings on the preservation of physical and digital collections. Previously, Megan was a Lead Records Management Analyst for the City and County of Honolulu, and she has served in government library and archive positions from Washington, DC to Sasebo, Japan. She has additional experience in digital asset management and museum collections care and as an art conservation technician. Megan is a Certified Archivist and a Certified Digital Archives Specialist. She holds an MS in Information Studies from the University of Texas with specializations in Archives and Records Enterprise and Preservation Studies.

Celeste Knight, Outreach and Travel Coordinator

From her office in Albuquerque, NM, Celeste Knight provides outreach and travel support for the "Ready—Or Not" Project, which provides emergency preparedness assessments to California organizations that care for cultural and historic resources (e.g., archives, libraries, museums, and tribal nations). Celeste is a museum professional who has worked in guest experience and education with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the University of New Mexico Art Museum. She holds an BA in Communication with a concentration in Intercultural Communication from the University of New Mexico and is fluent in English and Spanish.

Track: Archives, Preservation