Local News
Sam Rayburn House Museum staff learn about fire safety
By Anne Carlson, Curator, Sam Rayburn House Museum
Jun 25, 2009

Since 2006, the first day of May has not only been synonymous with May Day baskets, Maypoles and spring weather, it has also come to be known as a day for disaster preparedness. Heritage Preservation, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States, and members of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force have deemed the first day of May as MayDay.

The goal of the annual MayDay observance is to aid in the safeguarding of art, historical artifacts and records and historic sites. Various cultural and historical sites across the United States set aside May 1, 2009 to participate in the initiative, which was created to prepare these organizations for disasters.

With assistance from members of the Bonham Fire Department, staff at the Sam Rayburn House Museum participated in MayDay by learning about fire safety.

Firefighter Paramedic David Hale and Firefighter EMT Blake Jordan came to the site and instructed the staff on the proper usage of fire extinguishers. They provided staff with information on the conditions under which a fire extinguisher can be used and how to operate the extinguishers.

Staff practiced operating the equipment in the museum parking lot. The ability to use a fire extinguisher has come to be an important necessity at the site. In recent years, dry conditions have spurred nearby grass fires and a 1998 electrical fire in the house caused damage to the museum.    

Along with the fire extinguisher training, staff members updated and reviewed the site’s emergency preparedness plan. The plan is designed to negate emergency situations but also facilitate the actions of staff should disaster arise. The plan denotes appropriate actions in the case of fire, inclement weather, theft and other potentially disastrous events. They also created a Pocket Response Plan that contains essential information in case of an emergency and is small enough to be carried in a pocket or billfold.

In observance of MayDay, employees at the Sam Rayburn House Museum reviewed their plan of action in emergency situations to be well prepared if one should occur. Because the initiative encourages historical institutions across the U.S. to prepare for disasters, MayDay also gives back to community members. Through the protection of irreplaceable artifacts, archives, photos and books, Heritage Preservation is helping organizations to preserve held in trust collections for the long-term educational benefit of all people.

For more information about MayDay, visit the Heritage Preservation website at http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFlessons/MayDay.html.  For more information about the Sam Rayburn House Museum, call 903/583-5558 or email Pamela.heslep@thc.state.tx.us.