On Jan. 7, the raging Palisades fires approached the J. Paul Getty Museum, putting about 44,000 ancient and precious art pieces at risk. The museum found itself at the front lines against a devastating fire that has wiped out thousands of homes. Employees were quickly gathered, plans were laid out and emergency responses were activated.

Despite false reports that it had burned down, the Getty Museum still stands today like a fortress, with all the art pieces contained safely within its walls. The latest update from the institution stated that the museum is expected to reopen on Jan. 28, a large victory in the face of the surrounding devastation.

How did the Getty Museum survive nearly unscathed despite how close the fires got? And how do museums like the Getty prepare for disastrous situations such as the Los Angeles fires?

FIRES

With yearly endowments of billions of dollars, the Getty is able to afford quality defensive measures to protect its expensive art. But the museum’s protection begins with the building itself that is designed to be fire-resistant by architect Richard Meier. 

The structure is built with fire-resistant concrete, steel and stone called travertine, famously used by the Romans to build many structures, including the Colosseum. Its resistance to heat and its use by Romans makes it perfect for this Californian museum that hosts some of the world’s finest Roman art. Not only are the walls made of travertine, but so are the museum’s wide plaza spaces, aimed to slow down spreading fires.

The rooftop is made with crushed rocks instead of wood, which makes it resistant to flying embers. Ferocious winds have blown embers throughout Los Angeles, so this has proved to be effective in protecting the Getty.

The Getty also manages the plants and gardens that decorate the exterior spaces of the museum. Not only has the museum chosen drought-resistant plants and trees that soak up more water — making them more fire-resistant — they also dampen the plants with a system of sprinklers. This system’s water is supplied by local water pipes, but it can also rely on the center’s million-gallon water tank.

Despite the sprinklers and the abundance of water, they make sure to trim plants and to clear out any dry foliage, which can often become kindling for wildfires.

If the fires ever did manage to get inside the museum, an area that is burning can be blocked off by doors designed to contain fires. And as a last resort, there are sprinklers within the museum itself.

But it is not just these formidable defenses that protected the museum, but also employees and administration that worked quickly to respond to the fires. While non-essential workers were evacuated, those that remained took patrols with fire extinguishers to look for small embers that could flare up into larger fires. 

EARTHQUAKES

The Getty and other museums are often located in areas prone to earthquakes. Museums might have anti-fire measures to keep fires away from art pieces, but how do they prevent those art pieces from collapsing and shattering in an earthquake that shakes the foundation of the building?

The foundation of the museum, just like other earthquake-proof buildings, is well anchored to the ground. Stands, shelves and cabinets with art pieces are all secured to walls or foundational pieces.

When it comes to displaying objects, the method to protect them varies. For small objects on a pedestal, it is a good idea to cover them with a plexiglass case, which can protect the objects from falling debris. For larger artifacts, such as statues, they can be bolted into the floor to prevent them from tipping over. You could also put heavy weights in items like vases or containers to protect them from sliding or shifting around during an earthquake.

A particularly useful substance that museums utilize is museum putty. This rubber-like substance can attach fragile items onto surfaces or walls without damaging them. 

FLOODS

Another natural disaster that can destroy art in museums is flooding. Floods can occur for multiple reasons, such as hurricanes or river flooding.

For example, museums in Florida take many measures to protect their art against frequent hurricanes. Elevating the structure can prevent flooding. Strong glass windows can keep wind and rain from blowing into the museum, or having no windows at all can prevent the building from being completely leveled. 

However, when it comes to severe scenarios, there may be no other option than to move the art pieces. This requires planning and coordination, and many organizations involved in preserving art recommend museum administrations to develop disaster-preparedness plans, lest they be caught off guard by a sudden storm or flood.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO PREPARATION

Disaster-preparedness is an underlying commonality for all disasters that a museum can face. This includes making plans, checking the quality of supplies and systems and organizing training. It’s important that museums think of plans and preparations beforehand, so that when they are faced with an emergency, both art pieces and human lives can be preserved.