Every cultural institution should have an emergency plan based on the vulnerability of its staff, visitors, collections and buildings to potential natural and human-caused emergency situations or disasters. Developing a plan is the most important preventive conservation step an institution’s director and staff can take. This paper reviews the basics of the emergency preparedness and response process that results in an emergency plan. Some of the challenges the institution can face are addressed and specific examples given of the ongoing process at a small museum in Santiago, Chile. Also, words of advice are offered by some who have developed a plan, had it tested in a real emergency, and revised it accordingly. -- SCMRE