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Endangered Heritage

Emergency Response & Risk Management

Disaster Preparedness
& Recovery

From first call to full recovery — science-based emergency response and disaster management for cultural collections and heritage assets worldwide.

International Practice

When disaster strikes, you don't need to know where to start. A single call is enough.

Endangered Heritage provides emergency response and disaster management for cultural collections affected by fire, flood, mould, insect infestation, vandalism and environmental damage — across Australia and internationally.

Our team has consulted with organisations across the world including the Smithsonian, the British Library and the National Textiles Museum of Malaysia. We work with national institutions, government agencies, private collections and international bodies across the full heritage risk spectrum.

Our team includes qualified staff with direct experience in disaster and conflict zones — providing the expertise that high-stakes emergency situations demand.

FEMA Registered

Registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster response engagement.

Victoria Pearce

Director — Senior Paintings & Textiles Conservator

  • ICOMOS‑ICORP — International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (advises UNESCO and national governments)
  • Professional Member, AICCM
  • Certified Environmental Practitioner, CENVP / EIANZ
  • Associate Member, ARPI

Andrew Pearce

Senior Objects, Metals & Large Technology Conservator

  • Professional Member, AIC / FAIC (American Institute of Conservation)
  • Professional Member, IIC (International Institute of Conservation)
  • Professional Member, ICON (Institute of Conservation)
  • Associate Member, ARPI

Areas of Response

Every disaster type demands a distinct scientific protocol.

Fire & Smoke

Smoke and soot damage is recoverable in most circumstances. Because water is the primary method used to fight fires, many flood protocols apply equally to fire-affected collections.

Flood & Water Damage

Water causes immediate damage — but premature drying is often the greater threat. Dye bleed and tide lines must be managed while items remain wet.

Mould & Mildew

Two conditions drive mould growth: moisture and stagnant air. Rapid intervention protects both collection materials and the people handling them.

Insect Infestation

Infestations spread rapidly and cause irreversible damage. Early contact is the difference between containment and loss.

Vandalism & Breakage

Deliberate or accidental, breakage is not necessarily irreversible. Collect all fragments carefully before any attempt at handling.

Hazardous Materials

Heritage buildings may contain asbestos. Disasters that damage, burn or demolish building fabric can release toxic fibres — never re-enter until assessed.

Response Protocols

Science-based guidance for each disaster type.

Fire & Smoke

Most fire damage is treatable — if you act promptly.

Smoke and soot damage is recoverable in most circumstances. Because water is the primary method used to fight fires, much of the flood protocol applies equally to fire-affected collections. The critical variable is speed — soot begins bonding chemically to surfaces within hours of exposure.

Do not re-enter a fire-damaged building until authorities confirm the site is safe. Fires produce highly toxic soot and may compromise structural integrity without visible warning. Tetanus is a significant risk in fire-damaged premises — consult your GP before any physical work in an affected space.

Flood & Water Damage

Premature drying is often the greater threat.

Water causes immediate damage to many collection materials, but premature drying frequently compounds it. Dye bleed and tide lines must be managed while items remain wet — once dry, some treatments become impossible.

Paper, textiles and photographs require urgent specialist assessment. If immediate transport to our studio is not possible: seal individual items in plastic bags. Freeze paper items only — do not freeze photographs, wax objects or large textiles. Moulds on protein-based materials — leather, wool, silk, fur, parchment — are acutely toxic. Do not handle them without appropriate respiratory protection.

We have commercial dehumidifiers available for sale and hire to support active drying programmes.

Mould & Mildew

Address moisture and airflow — not just the mould itself.

Two conditions drive mould growth: moisture and stagnant air. Address both. Thirty minutes of direct sunlight kills most mould types on textiles and leather — fading is a risk, but it is the lesser of two evils. Professional stain reduction is skilled, time-intensive work. Never apply bleach to heritage items.

Prevention

  • Store away from high humidity — not in sheds, roof spaces or cellars
  • Do not place textiles against moisture-absorbing surfaces such as brick or concrete
  • Air musty items promptly — do not return them to storage damp
  • Do not store textiles in sealed plastic bags
  • Do not seal frame backs on humid days; inspect periodically for trapped moisture
  • Do not use vacuum-sealed storage bags for heritage items

Insect Infestation

Early intervention is everything.

No matter how well-maintained a collection, insects represent a persistent threat. Infestations spread rapidly and cause irreversible damage — and they are often well-established before becoming visible.

Contact us as soon as infestation is suspected. We will assess the spread, establish quarantine protocols appropriate to your space and begin treatment. Do not move affected items through the collection — containment must precede everything else.

Vandalism & Breakage

Breakage is not necessarily irreversible.

Deliberate or accidental, many breakage events can be effectively treated. Collect all fragments carefully and contact us before attempting any handling. The results of skilled conservation work are often remarkable.

Do not rub broken edges together — edge abrasion is cumulative and cannot be undone. Do not attempt repair with household adhesives. A significant proportion of conservation work on broken objects involves reversing prior amateur repairs, and this work can never fully restore what was lost in the process.

For corroded metals, consult your GP about tetanus vaccination before handling. Take appropriate precautions with broken glass.

Hazardous Materials

Heritage buildings may contain asbestos.

Many Australian heritage buildings constructed before the 1980s incorporated asbestos in ceilings, floor tiles, insulation and structural linings. In an undisturbed state these materials present minimal risk. Disasters that damage, burn or demolish building fabric can release toxic fibres into the air.

If your building may contain asbestos, do not re-enter until an independent site assessment has been completed by a qualified professional. For guidance on identifying asbestos materials in heritage contexts, contact your state environment authority or the relevant WorkSafe body.

Risk Assessment

Development planning must involve disaster planning.

By establishing a clear understanding of the environment, community and values surrounding an asset, we can identify the risks before they materialise. The following threat categories inform every risk assessment we conduct.

Climate & Environmental

Climate change and extreme weather events

Increased rainfall, storm events and humidity fluctuations drive mould growth and biological activity. High winds cause mechanical damage and abrasive surface loss. Soot and smoke from fire cause metal corrosion and require flood protocols in addition to fire response.

Natural Disaster

Earthquakes and extreme weather

Earthquakes and typhoons exert tremendous forces on structures — causing direct mechanical damage, undermining foundations, and creating the conditions for secondary collapse. Disaster planning must account for cascading failure scenarios.

Biological Threats

Insects and biological attack

Timber assets are highly vulnerable to termites and borers. The damage frequently remains invisible — exterior surfaces untouched while structural internals are completely consumed, leaving only a fragile shell that fails without warning.

Conflict & Security

Internal conflict and external warfare

Internal conflict — vandalism, unauthorised removal, structural loading from visitor behaviour — degrades collections slowly and often invisibly. External conflict has historically resulted in deliberate destruction, looting and structural damage from weapons fire. Our team includes qualified staff who have worked in disaster and conflict zones internationally.

Visitation & Usage

Unsustainable visitation and usage pressure

Increased visitation brings mechanical wear, vibration, extended light exposure and humidity rise from the breathing of visitors. Assets designed for limited access can be critically damaged by high visitor loads that were never anticipated in their original design.

Development & Change

Development, urbanisation and stakeholder change

Infrastructure development near heritage sites introduces ground vibration, pollution, noise and light bleed. Changes in custodianship — particularly political changes in national government — can render sites vulnerable to altered usage, reduced maintenance budgets, or deliberate alteration of the message a cultural asset conveys.

Equipment

Commercial dehumidifiers, available for sale and hire.

Controlled moisture removal is central to every flood and water damage response. We make commercial-grade dehumidifiers available to clients managing active drying programmes — alongside specialist UVC equipment for mould remediation through our Integrated Mould Management practice.

Begin a Conversation

In a crisis, you don't need to know exactly what to ask for.

A single call or message initiates our response. We will assess your situation, prioritise immediate actions and deploy the appropriate expertise — whether that's one specialist or an entire team.