Anyone from UTMB Galveston?

[Shadoobie]

I went to check on the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to see what steps they were taking for the Hurricane. It looks like they got most of the patients and staff evacuated.

What I couldn't find was any information about how well their buildings can withstand a hurricane, specifically, the newly built Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease. I hope the BSL4 lab that they have is safe and secure.

Anyone know?

Greg

[Maple]

1. There was something on it earlier here

Lab and nuke plant are secured...can't remember in what forum though

[MichaelHarris]

2. I spent 12 years

working there. 4 years of that was in Environmental Health and Safety, specifically radiation safety. Those bio-labs have been cleaned and locked down probably days ago. All bio and radioactive materials are drummed up, locked down and labeled very well. If the drums were to break away during the storm they can be easily spotted. Alot of the buildings on campus are very old and built like fortresses, they'll take a hell of a beating.

Old Red beat the 1900 storm and It'll beat this one.

[rainbow4321]

3. Chronicle: UTMB virus lab, South Texas nuclear plant are ready

Per another article, UTMB has evacced except for the most critical patients. They/staff and some generators have been moved to the 3rd floor...I just hope their hospital can make it thru 150+ mile winds.



http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3362586


The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has one of a handful of certified U.S. labs handling the world's most infectious, lethal viruses, a biosafety-level 4 facility. The campus is less than a mile from the Galveston seawall.

The lab's director, Michael R. Holbrook, said workers have already destroyed lab cultures in which viruses were growing and will begin packing the lab up today, putting remaining viruses in sealed and locked freezers. Then, if Rita still threatens Thursday, the lab will be fumigated with formaldehyde.

Plant spokesman Edward Conaway said the two reactors will shut down before hurricane-force winds hit the complex, which is several miles away from the coast. Work crews are in the process of tying down any equipment that cannot be brought inside buildings, he said. Before the storm hits, the plant's 1,300 full-time personnel will be reduced to a much smaller crew.

The reactor buildings, encased in 4-foot-thick concrete walls reinforced with steel, were built to withstand the forces of the most extreme tornadoes, Conaway said.