The Alianza Cultural para Emergencias de Puerto Rico (Alliance for Cultural Emergencies in Puerto Rico) (ACEPR) was established in 2019 to assist cultural, LAM, and arts organizations throughout the Archipelago in minimizing damage to their collections during natural hazards or man-made disasters. Founded in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017, ACEPR has utilized the lessons learned from these events to foster a more resilient community. Our focus is on prevention through educational programs and initiatives that help safeguard our cultural heritage.
One of the challenges in the response process for cultural organizations in 2017 was the lack of a consolidated database of contact information that would enable responders to reach the affected cultural community more quickly. This led local cultural organizations and personnel, in collaboration with FEMA, to develop a list that could be used throughout the recovery process. Thanks to technology, we have learned other ways to use contact information effectively not only in an emergency scenario, but also as a prevention and mitigation strategy. With support from the Mellon Foundation, in 2025, ACEPR launched the “Cultural Mapping for Emergency Response” project as part of its Collections in Response initiative. Its main goal is to develop a collaborative network to increase the visibility of Puerto Rico’s cultural heritage and support its protection before, during, and after emergencies. Using a georeferenced database, the mapping initiative enables the identification of organizations and collections, improves communication with custodial institutions, and facilitates quick, effective coordination, both before and during prevention, response, and recovery efforts.
In the presentation, we will discuss how technology (through ArcGIS and Storymaps) is used to strengthen our capacity to prepare for and respond to uncertainty, ensuring the sustainability of our cultural heritage. We will present our data compilation strategy, the educational tool created to engage more organizations, and the next phases of the project that include: visualizing active or vulnerable heritage zones, connecting similar institutions, planning for collection relocations affected by climate change, and building micro-networks that strengthen community resilience and support during difficult times.
