Georgia Secretary of State Press Office

Georgia Archives Ranks “Very High” in Emergency Preparedness

Morrow, GA- The Georgia Archives, under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office, ranks very high in the nation in emergency preparedness, according to a recent assessment conducted by the Council of State Archivists. If a disaster were to occur in Georgia, citizens can be assured that the State’s archivists would be prepared to assist in the recovery of any important documents in the impacted area.

“During Hurricane Katrina, important documents such as birth certificates, deeds, and wills were lost, leaving citizens without vital documentation,” Secretary of State Karen Handel said. “This report shows that our state archives is well prepared to help save these records in a disaster-stricken area.”

The Council assessed state archives according to their authority and resources for emergency response; records-related preparedness in other state government agencies and in local governments; and records-related emergency planning and response assistance. Nationally, most states “met few” of the criteria for preparedness; Georgia was ranked as “meets most” of those same criteria.

The Georgia Archives was specifically commended for its excellent relationship with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), its strong authority for managing executive branch records, the provision of security storage for state and local government records, and its close ties to non-governmental repositories throughout the state.

Handel cautioned, though, that much work remains to be done to ensure that every state and local government is fully prepared. “We can never take preparedness for granted. The archives has identified several priorities for future work.”

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our business community, our government, and our citizens. These services include an efficient and secure election process, and the regulation of corporations, securities, and professional license holders. The Office also controls the state archives and the Capitol museum.

For Immediate Release February 16, 2007	FFI Contact:Matt Carrothers Director of Communications 404.656.5792

Georgia Archives Ranks “Very High” in Emergency Preparedness Morrow, GA- The Georgia Archives, under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office, ranks very high in the nation in emergency preparedness, according to a recent assessment conducted by the Council of State Archivists. If a disaster were to occur in Georgia, citizens can be assured that the State’s archivists would be prepared to assist in the recovery of any important documents in the impacted area. “During Hurricane Katrina, important documents such as birth certificates, deeds, and wills were lost, leaving citizens without vital documentation,” Secretary of State Karen Handel said. “This report shows that our state archives is well prepared to help save these records in a disaster-stricken area.” The Council assessed state archives according to their authority and resources for emergency response; records-related preparedness in other state government agencies and in local governments; and records-related emergency planning and response assistance. Nationally, most states “met few” of the criteria for preparedness; Georgia was ranked as “meets most” of those same criteria. The Georgia Archives was specifically commended for its excellent relationship with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), its strong authority for managing executive branch records, the provision of security storage for state and local government records, and its close ties to non-governmental repositories throughout the state. Handel cautioned, though, that much work remains to be done to ensure that every state and local government is fully prepared. “We can never take preparedness for granted. The archives has identified several priorities for future work.” Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our business community, our government, and our citizens. These services include an efficient and secure election process, and the regulation of corporations, securities, and professional license holders. The Office also controls the state archives and the Capitol museum.