Essential Information

Need to know what to bring to work with you in a storm situation? how to find the latest storm update? This is the place to start. 

In the event of a hurricane watch...

Begin preparation at home:

• Board or otherwise protect windows
• Remove pictures from walls
• Remove area rugs
• Bring in outside furniture
• Move your car to high ground
• Fill any containers—bathtubs, buckets, etc.--with water
• Turn off water, gas and electricity
• More information on getting ready for all sorts of emergencies from the American Red Cross

Closely monitor the radio (KTRH/740 AM or KUHF 88.7 FM,  in Houston) or TV reports for UTMB announcements.

When coming into the hospital areas for housing:

• Bring your I.D. badge. You will not be able to get in unless you have it.
• Be sure of the location of members of your family who are staying outside the hospital.
• Bring items on the list (below)
• Parking is available for one approved family car in the garage and may not be available if you are not here early.
• There are facilities on request for child and adolescent care*.

*Note: UTMB Hospitals and Clinics are not public shelters during a hurricane. Only essential employees and approved dependents will be allowed sleeping quarters.

To contact UTMB in the event of disaster or emergency weather conditions:

• Call (409) 77-ALERT (772-5378); or
• Call your supervisor; or
• Call main operator (409) 772-1011.
• If you are unsuccessful in contacting the above numbers, listen to the radio or television for further information. UTMB provides information to Texas State Network News affiliates throughout the state.

What to bring and not to bring:

MISCELLANEOUS

• I.D. badge with orange Essential credentials

• Bed linens, blankets, towels and pillows as required

• Rain gear and clothing, such as shorts, sturdy sneakers and other loose, comfortable clothes

• Personal medications

• Soap and personal hygiene items

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• Battery-operated portable radio and extra batteries

• Recreational items such as cards, games, books and magazines

• Non-electric can opener

• Non-electric or battery-operated alarm clock

• A small supply of bottled water to supplement what will be stocked by the university.

DO NOT BRING

• Pets

• Food. In the event of an emergency, all personnel required to be on campus will be provided meals. However, if you do have special dietary needs, please bring those specialty items that would not readily be available in an emergency.

• Family members, unless you have prior authorization from the institutional emergency preparedness officer. UTMB is not a shelter and cannot provide shelter for family members of emergency personnel.

• Expensive personal property

• Kitchen appliances, charcoal stoves, gas lanterns, candles or other potential fire hazards

IMPORTANT

1. Please review the Emergency Operations Plan for detailed information

Toll-free ALERT telephone number

A toll-free number has been created to be used in conjunction with the existing UTMB ALERT telephone line. The number is (888) 772-5449. The line will be activated in the event of disaster or emergency weather conditions and will be used to convey information about conditions at UTMB to employees outside the Galveston area.

UTMB's other emergency hotline number is (409) 77-ALERT (772-5378).

Pass system for essential personnel

UTMB has implemented a pass system to facilitate access  and movement of its essential personnel during times of crisis. The system centers on two-piece colored and numbered cards. The cards will be distributed to official departmental contacts when an emergency--such as a tropical storm--threatens. The departmental contacts will then distribute them to essential employees in their area.

The cards are designed to be separated in two; one part is worn affixed to an employee's ID, and the other is meant to be placed on an automotive dash.

The colored cards are highly visible and are meant to speed the process for entry into parking garages and onto campus for those who need to be here.

Campus monitors as information source

Campus monitors are now used as a communication venue during an emergency. Regular announcements on these monitors can be suspended in preparation for or during an emergency. Check them for important information; they're the TV sets hung from ceilings near elevators, in high-traffic hallways and in the cafeteria. You can also tune in to these announcements on campus cable channel 54 from the UTMB campus. 

Suggested route for coming to campus

There is often confusion about the best route for coming to campus when the island is under the effect of heavy rains and abnormally high tides often associated with tropical weather.

In general, Broadway and Harborside (formally Port Industrial) are subject to flooding and are not recommended. 

The best route to campus from the mainland is usually to exit at 61st Street, proceed to Seawall Boulevard, head east on Seawall to University Boulevard, and onto the UTMB campus.

During T.S. Frances in 1998, the feeder road exiting from Interstate 45 to 61st Street was under water. If this is the case again, it may be possible to bypass the 61st Street exit and continue onto Broadway, then make a U-turn by the  post office or Racetrack gas station. The feeder road on the north side of Interstate 45 is not as likely to flood, and will give you access to 61st coming from the east.

Conditions can vary from storm to storm. Always exercise extreme caution whenever flooding threatens and use your best judgment. Remember that most of the deaths caused by tropical weather are due to drowning and not high winds.

DO NOT bring pets to campus

UTMB is not a shelter, not for people and  not for pets. Under no circumstances will any pets be housed or permitted in or on UTMB's facilities during an emergency. This is not a new policy.

During times of crisis, we must conserve our limited resources and ensure the safety and health of the patients and employees who must remain on campus.

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