Archives, libraries and museums will train together for emergencies on August 12th
The emergency network of Darmstadt archives, libraries, museums, and scientific institutions will conduct a large-scale exercise at and inside the Darmstadt art depot on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The aim is to test the cooperation between the participating institutions under the most realistic conditions possible.
The interdisciplinary emergency response network was founded in 2015. Its mission is to work together to rescue and provide initial care for cultural assets in the event of fires, floods, water damage, and other emergencies. The initial measures taken after a disaster can be crucial in determining whether and to what extent valuable collections can be preserved.
The importance of such preparation has been demonstrated in the past by events such as the Elbe flood of 2002, the fire at the Anna Amalia Library in Weimar in 2004, the collapse of the Cologne City Archives in 2009, and the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley and Rhineland in 2021. The Darmstadt emergency response network had its first real-world deployment in 2023 at the Griesheim branch of the Hessian Economic Archives.
Art objects and soaked materials contain
Several municipal cultural institutions are also participating in the exercise on August 12. The members of the network are receiving support from, among others, the Darmstadt fire department, where the network's emergency equipment is also stored.
This time, the focus is on securing works of art, and especially large museum exhibits. In addition, participants will train in the recovery and initial treatment of water-damaged materials, such as those found in archives, libraries, and museums.
To simulate the conditions of actual water damage as realistically as possible, training objects are exposed to water for an extended period beforehand. This changes the volume and weight of the materials. At the same time, the simulation aims to show how individual components can change or detach due to the moisture.
The soaked objects must then be professionally prepared for transport to a cold storage facility.
Cooperation for the protection of cultural heritage
The annual exercises are not only intended to train practical procedures. They also serve to strengthen cooperation between the participating institutions and to identify potential weaknesses before an actual emergency occurs.
The emergency network aims to make an important contribution to the protection of cultural heritage in Darmstadt.
Further information about the emergency network and its members can be found on the network's website.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
