Disaster Planning and Recovery Resources
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) offers helpful information for local governments, organizations, and historic property owners to plan for and recover from disasters.
Report Damage to Your Historic Property
Was your historic property damaged in a disaster? Use DHR’s Disaster Recovery Survey Form to report it. This form helps DHR understand how much damage has occurred and supports recovery funding efforts.
By filling out the form, you’ll:
- Record the damage to your property.
- Help DHR assess the impact of the disaster.
- Contribute to programs focused on recovery.
Contacts
Disaster Guides
Pages linked below provide more information on specific types of disasters, how to prepare, and how to recover.
A disaster of organic origin which is caused and/or spread by living organisms or other disaster types. Examples include bacteria, viruses, parasites, venomous organisms, poisonous plants and fungi, toxic gases, and harmful chemicals. Virginia is most at risk for pandemics, mold infestations, and chemical emergencies.
A disaster caused by drastic fluctuations in the climate such as drought, extreme heat or cold, and/or wildfires. These climatological events may also be caused by other disaster types.
A disaster that originates inside the earth, such as the movement or shift of tectonic plates. Examples include earthquakes, volcanic activity, emissions or eruptions, and related events such as landslides, rockslides, surface collapses, and debris or mud flow. Virginia is most at risk for earthquakes and the related event types.
A disaster that is caused by or related to water, including flooding, waves and tsunamis, storm surges, and other hazards driven by water dynamics such as mud slides. Virginia is most at risk for flooding, storm surges, and related event types.
A disaster that originates in the earth’s atmosphere, often referred to as “weather-related” disasters. These include hurricanes, tornadoes, intense storms, and may cause other hazards driven by weather such as temperatures, wildfires, and flash floods. Virginia is most at risk for storms, including severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
A disaster that is caused by a technological failure or a human error related to handling technology. Examples include oil spills, terrorism, vandalism, nuclear disasters, dam failures, industrial pollution, transportation accidents, and other incidents involving technology. Any of these disaster types may be a risk in Virginia.
Quick Links
- Disaster Resources Toolkit for Government and Organizational Representatives
- Disaster Resources Toolkit for Property Owners
- Disaster Planning & Recovery Glossary
- Pre- and Post-Disaster Checklists
- DHR Grants & Funding Opportunities
- DHR Survey Program
- Report Damages
- Disaster Planning & Recovery Map Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my property historic?
Not all old buildings and structures are considered historic. When evaluating if a resource is historic the following criteria is considered:
- Is the resource at least 50 years old?
- Does it have integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association?
- Does it have significance in history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and/or culture?
Is it individually listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register or National Register of Historic Places?
Is it protected by an historic preservation easement?
Is it within a local historic district and/or locally recognized as an historic resource?
For more information or additional questions, contact us.
What can I do to protect my property from threats of disasters?
Download the DHR Pre- and Post-Disaster Checklists for recommendations for preparing your property for upcoming disasters and recovery efforts to take after a disaster.
Visit the disaster-specific links above for more information about planning for specific disaster types.
What assistance is available for historic property owners in the event of a disaster?
Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF) Disaster Relief Assistance Grants provide assistance to historic properties and archaeological sites damaged by specifically identified disasters. For more information, click here.
Visit the DHR Grants & Funding Opportunities page and/or contact Caitlin Sylvester (grants@dhr.virginia.gov) for more information.
In the event of a disaster, what immediate actions should I take to mitigate damage to my historic property?
Once it is safe to return to or enter your property, assess and document the damage caused by the disaster. Visit the disaster-specific links above for more information about disaster recovery efforts for specific disaster-types.
I want to document my property before or after a disaster, what do I do?
New or updated documentation on a historic property can be provided to DHR before or after a disaster. Visit the DHR Survey Program page for more information on providing information on a recorded or previously unrecorded historic resource.
If your historic property was damaged by a recent disaster, you may report damages to DHR using the Disaster Recovery Survey Form (your historic property does not have to be recorded in VCRIS to report damages).
Before filling out the survey form, please visit the VCRIS Map Viewer to determine if the property has an existing DHR ID number. To determine if your property has a DHR ID number, open the VCRIS Map Viewer and click on the “Map” tab in the upper left corner. Then, in the address search bar on the right side of the screen, type in your property’s address. Please allow time for the website to
load. Once it has finished loading, an aerial map with ID numbers should be visible on your screen. Zoom in to your property as needed to determine if your property is labeled with an ID number. If your property is labeled with an ID number, this is the DHR ID. The DHR ID may be a 7-digit number (e.g., 000-0000), or it may be an 11-digit number (e.g., 000-0000-0000). If your property is not labeled with an ID number, your property does not have a DHR ID number associated with VCRIS.
If your property does not have an existing DHR ID number, you may still complete the Disaster Recovery Survey form to report damages to DHR. If you would like to provide additional information on an unrecorded property, please visit the DHR Survey Program page for more information.
How can I assess the vulnerability of my historic property to different types of disasters?
One way to assess your property’s risk to different disaster types is to use the DHR Disaster Planning & Recovery Mapping Tool. This is an online map that allows users to view data layers relating to historic resources and disaster risks. Layers can be turned off and on to visualize the level of risk a certain area has for the different disaster types, and visualize where concentrations of historic resources that may be impacted by a given disaster type.
Users can also search a locality or specific address to find it on the map.
Note, due to the large amounts of data displayed in the Mapping Tool, imagery may be slow to load. Please allow time for the map to load.
