The State Historical Society of Iowa offers several resources to help Iowans recover from weather-related emergencies and other setbacks. The State Historical Society can also help Iowans connect with regional and federal forms of assistance.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please email us at iowa.culture@iowa.gov to connect with a staff member who can help.
Recovery Funding
- Private nonprofits and local governments in federally designated disaster areas may be eligible for funding through the Iowa Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- The Small Business Administration has disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
- If you work at a history museum or own a listed historic property, it may be eligible for an emergency grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa’s Historical Resource Development Program.
- The Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Fund from the Iowa Arts Council provides short-term financial assistance to eligible organizations impacted by natural disasters, emergencies and other unforeseen events that pose an active threat to publicly accessible artistic or cultural resources.
Emergency Resources
- Disaster preparedness resources assembled by the Iowa Arts Council are specifically designed to assist Iowa artists and cultural organizations.
- Toolkits for the Local History Network, a program of the State Historical Society of Iowa, include reliable tips about caring for artifacts, handling hazardous materials and planning for disasters.
- The National Parks Service’s Conserve-O-Grams offer practical advice about salvaging historic collections from damage, including tips on drying and freezing wet materials to minimize damage.
- The Heritage Emergency National Task Force offers one of the most concise lists of resources available for disaster recovery. The task force is co-sponsored by FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, in partnership with more than 60 national service organizations and federal agencies. The task force’s resources include funding options as well as guidance about health and safety.
- For additional technical assistance, contact the Ford Conservation Center in Omaha (402-595-1180) or the Midwest Art Conservation Center in Minneapolis (612-870-3120).