[SOA] FW: Free Flood Risk webinar- ICA (May 13): When the Ground Won’t Take Anymore

[Carleton, Janet (she/her)]

May be of interest. Free.


From: Kate Montlack <ConnectWithICA at ica-artconservation.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 11:16 AM
To: Carleton, Janet (she/her) <carleton at ohio.edu>
Subject: [External] ICA Webinar (May 13): When the Ground Won’t Take Anymore


Good morning,



Spring flooding across Ohio is becoming more intense, more unpredictable, and more likely to move quickly from outside our buildings to inside our storage rooms, galleries, and mechanical spaces. Saturated soils, aging storm infrastructure, and heavier rainfall are changing how cultural institutions experience flood risk.



On May 13 at 10:30 AM (ET), ICA-Art Conservation and the Alliance for Response Ohio (AR-OH) will host a special interactive webinar designed specifically for museums, archives, libraries, colleges, and theaters across the state: When the Ground Won’t Take Anymore.



This session is a virtual tabletop emergency exercise built around a realistic Northeast Ohio flooding scenario. Rather than focusing on technical salvage methods, the exercise centers on what institutions often find most challenging during an unfolding event: decision-making under pressure, communication across roles, authority and access constraints, and how to prioritize when you simply cannot stop the water.

Participants will work through a sequence many of us recognize—from a Flash Flood Watch to interior water intrusion, access restrictions, and the first 48 hours after the water recedes—exploring:

  *   Who monitors weather and initiates early actions
  *   How staff and volunteers receive and respond to alerts
  *   What to prioritize when only part of a building is affected
  *   When not to attempt salvage
  *   What documentation matters most in the first hours and days
  *   How to communicate with volunteers, donors, insurers, and the public
  *   Practical improvements that can be implemented immediately and over time



The exercise will be facilitated by Holly Witchey, Executive Director of ICA Art Conservation, and Wendy Partridge, Senior Paintings Conservator and National Heritage Responder, who bring extensive experience helping institutions prepare for and respond to disasters affecting collections and historic buildings.



Whether your institution has a formal emergency plan or is just beginning to think about flood preparedness, this program will help you identify realistic, actionable steps to strengthen resilience.



Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XXVDyVDlQRiVZqtJpEbLgA<https://go.levitate.ai/meeting/register/XXVDyVDlQRiVZqtJpEbLgA?t=74b0d703041949ff94727a0d19b3c315>



We hope you and members of your staff and volunteer teams will join us for this timely and practical session.



Sincerely,

Kate



--
Kate Montlack (she/her)
Director of Operations
ICA-Art Conservation
2937 West 25 Street, Fl. 2
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-658-8700
katem at ica-artconservation.org<mailto:katem at ica-artconservation.org>



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