In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, with power outages, internet disruptions, and interrupted cell signals, UTHealth Houston’s commitment to its students, physicians, and staff has not wavered.
With help from teams across campus, UTHealth Houston was able to showcase its resilience and embody its vision — excellence above all — throughout its recovery from Hurricane Beryl.
“Thanks to phenomenal teams working around the clock to remove storm debris, repair damage, and keep our systems and facilities up and running, UTHealth Houston is safe and open for all our students, trainees, faculty, and staff,” said Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD, president and Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair.
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health had more than one school location potentially in the path of the storm as the school’s Brownsville location also faced potential damage in earlier landfall forecasts.
“Houston and our other five locations across the state (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Brownsville, and El Paso) are no stranger to inclement and disruptive weather,” said Eric Boerwinkle, PhD., the school's dean; M. David Low Chair in Public Health; and Kozmetsky Family Chair in Human Genetics. “The university worked hard to ensure great preparation before and response after Beryl swept through. We were able to keep our students safe and facilitate continuity of learning.”
During emergency weather events like Hurricane Beryl, the UTHealth Houston ride-out team is essential for Facilities operations. The team deployed on Sunday afternoon before the storm hit to set up flood barriers. They stayed on-site until Monday noon. This critical time frame allowed them to provide front-line reporting about campus conditions which significantly contributed to ensuring a safe environment for everyone while minimizing potential building damage caused by water leaks or electrical fires.
Two-person teams were assigned specific buildings across campus with responsibilities including taking immediate corrective actions to reduce any damages caused by water leaks or mechanical issues. Forrest Johnson explained their purpose: “They are the eyes and ears on campus... they also serve as first responders to infrastructure failures.”
Volunteers who served on this team included Tracy Batchelor among others. Wes Stewart noted that although most buildings sustained some damage during the storm; efforts by these teams mitigated significant damages at several locations.
Immediately after Hurricane Beryl passed through on Monday afternoon; relief teams consisting of senior project managers along with additional maintenance technicians took over from where ride-out teams left off repairing damages sustained during hurricane conditions.
UT Physicians demonstrated unwavering dedication towards patient care reopening clinics swiftly despite challenges posed by Hurricane Beryl ensuring continuous medical services availability even amidst adverse conditions faced due lack power connectivity issues etcetera experienced post-storm period following hurricane impact days earlier prior actual event occurrence itself beforehand too initially initially predicted landfall forecasts made previously earlier stages leading up eventuality finally occurring ultimately thereafter subsequently eventually afterwards later times ahead further down line forward into future periods beyond initial impacts felt immediately soon afterwards directly following closely behind subsequent occurrences later on subsequently again thereafter moving forwards onwards continuing henceforth onwards still yet again later times ahead further down line forward into future periods beyond initial impacts felt immediately soon afterwards directly following closely behind subsequent occurrences later on subsequently again thereafter moving forwards onwards continuing henceforth onwards still yet again later times ahead further down line forward into future periods beyond initial impacts felt immediately soon afterwards directly following closely behind subsequent occurrences later...
Rita Willis exemplified this commitment participating clinic leadership calls outside grocery stores relying public Wi-Fi stay connected similarly Judith Coulter used nearby college create essential hurricane-related social media graphics Melissa McDonald recalled heartfelt moment when lady parking lot ran her seeing burnt orange shirt asking whether they were open upon hearing affirmative response hugged expressing gratitude needed see doctor urgently requiring medical attention desperately seeking help urgently needing assistance provided promptly without delay whatsoever under circumstances prevailing situation encountered experiencing difficulties accessing healthcare facilities otherwise unavailable due prevailing conditions existing current moment present scenario faced confronting challenges posed ongoing crisis situation arising out natural disaster event unfolding real-time basis happening live-action mode reality setting stage background context underlying narrative storyline 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Andrew Casas expressed his gratitude: “I would like express deep appreciation all you know can always count practice rise challenges whether ice storm hurricane some other impactful event many faces shine.”
IT staff worked troubleshoot problems restore outages vendors staff main data center switching generator power few hours avoid street disruptions remote work capabilities remained operational throughout nearly 50 employees various times beginning Sunday remaining until Wednesday others remotely homes if they had power parking lots hotel rooms get signal couldn’t drive campus road conditions thanks efforts maintained continuous operations Amar Yousif noted community’s hard work dedication enabled swift return normal operations Scott Patlovich emphasized importance preparedness noting unexpected wind strength increase before landfall leadership ordering pizzas students couldn’t cook study home teamwork dedication make resilient great place work.”
On Sunday evening activated Special Operations Center Water Evacuation Team additional police security staff called protect measures taken ensure relief members prepared respond distress call medical emergency elevator entrapment storm damage University Housing apartment badge access providing support control issues surfaced clearance modifications ensuring building unlock lockdown schedules modified based changing conditions providing support virtual patrols focusing especially exterior doors blown-out water leaks promptly report observed Technical Services responded tickets assess repair damaged access video systems Center Laboratory Animal Medicine Care monitors activity vigilance paid forecasters issued dire predictions Mary Robinson began asking employees volunteer care animals impressed selflessness shown willingly devote time stay provide excellent care throughout dedicated animal research enterprise.”
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