Disaster and emergency preparedness in Istanbul museums

Abstract

Istanbul is a high-risk city in terms of disasters, as well as having museums hosting many cultural heritage artifacts. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preparation level of museums in Istanbul for disaster and emergencies, to determine the problems in planning, and to evaluate the point of view of museum staff on disaster management. A mixed method that includes qualitative and quantitative data about state and private museums in Istanbul was used in the research. A form that included a questionnaire and open-ended interview questions was used for data collection. According to the results, it has been determined that state museums have problems such as testing the disaster plan and giving practical training to staff, and those who define themselves as small among private museums do not have a disaster plan due to lack of staff and insufficient financing. Disaster management is a neglected issue and lags behind other museum activities. This research, which provides valuable information about the disaster preparedness of museums in Istanbul, has implications for disaster planning for all museums. Since the problems in planning are also seen in cultural institutions in different parts of the world, recommendations can be adapted to these institutions.