Recent events, such as the outbreak of H1N1 influenza and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, have raised awareness of the need for disaster preparedness and service continuity. During the last few years, disaster planning resources have become readily available. However, the reality is that many health sciences libraries still do not have comprehensive disaster plans in place. Because the preparation and execution of a disaster plan is labor intensive and time consuming, the writing of a comprehensive disaster plan is often relegated to the “back burner.” This was the case at the University of South Carolina (USC) School of Medicine (SOM) Library, until recently. The SOM Library is a relatively small operation with 15 staff members serving approximately 530 medical and graduate students and more than 250 faculty. Faculty, staff, and students have 24/7 access privileges. The library has been fortunate to have never experienced a significant disaster; however, South Carolina is vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. In addition, collections and services are at risk for damage from roof leaks, pest infestations, mold blooms, theft, fire, burst pipes, security breakdowns, and accumulation of dust and dirt. Having determined the need for a disaster plan, library faculty examined disaster planning resources and brainstormed possible approaches. It was decided that outside guidance from experts would be beneficial because no single staff member boasted significant disaster planning experience. This would require funds that simply were not available. Hence, library faculty sought out grant opportunities and were awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in the amount of $4,500. The grant allowed the SOM Library to hire 2 consultants to aid in developing a comprehensive disaster plan and to purchase emergency supplies.