Emergency Plans:
The following disaster emergency plan is specific to the Marine Science Library in Port Aransas, Texas. Currently, it pertains to one type of natural disaster, the hurricane. General Preparations: The Atlantic hurricane season is officially from 1 June to 30 November. A planning meeting will be held at the beginning of May each year to review all hurricane procedures for UTMSI. The Director, Assistant Director for Facilities and Boat Operations, Senior Science Staff, Librarian, Physical Plant, Boat Captains, Custodial, Grounds, Fiscal Office, and Administrative Office supervisors and a Graduate Student Representative will attend this planning meeting. Disaster Emergency Contacts: If an emergency situation arises during regular hours, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, call one of the following people below.
Liz DeHart Steve Lanoux
Kathy Quade In Austin
Nancy Elder
Jennifer Lee
HURRICANE PROCEDURES FOR THE MARINE SCIENCE LIBRARY Library staff will be responsible for securing the library in an event of a hurricane. Necessary supplies to keep on hand at all times: heavy-duty plastic and tape, large flashlight [The following is taken from the Marine Science Institute's "Hurricane Procedures Action Plan"] Phase I - Early preparations will be directed when a hurricane is within 500 miles of UTMSI. Phase I will automatically be implemented when a Hurricane Watch is declared. All supervisors and key staff will be on call and must be available by phone if either Phase I or Phase II is initiated. The Director will initiate notification when preparations for Phase I are to begin. If this declaration occurs after working hours or on the weekend, the Director, or his designee, will recall selected staff. Only those required to meet emergency preparations will be included. All others should comply with local jurisdictional directives concerning personal preparation. The Director will also determine if critical staff will be recalled if on leave or travel. Alternate precautions may be taken, as determined by the Director, in the event of lesser weather disturbances, such as a tropical storm. In the event the Director is unavailable, the Assistant Director, Operations will assume these responsibilities. If the Assistant Director is unavailable, the Director of Marine Education Services Rick Tinnin will assume the responsibility. The MSI buildings and facilities are not hurricane shelters. Supplies are not maintained for emergency use. In the event of a hurricane, it must be assumed that there will be no electric power, fresh water or sanitary sewer anywhere in Port Aransas. Hence, all MSI personnel are required to evacuate when directed by the City of Port Aransas. Do not plan on remaining at MSI or occupying any of its facilities during a hurricane. Use or occupancy of this facility during these periods is specifically forbidden. Phase I for Library: The staff will be informed that hurricane preparedness procedures have been initiated and that they should report to work immediately. The following actions will be initiated to protect unit resources.
Each Unit head will inform the Director as Phase I preparations are completed or if any unexpected difficulties are encountered. Phase II - Phase II will be declared as storm systems approach 250 miles from UTMSI. Phase II preparations will be automatically implemented when a Hurricane Warning is declared. If this declaration occurs after working hours or on the weekend, the Director, or his designee, will recall selected staff. Only those required to meet emergency preparations will be included. All others should comply with local jurisdictional directives concerning personal preparation or evacuation. As individual units complete their preparations and report their status to the Director, they will be released to complete personal preparation for evacuation. Alternate and lesser precautions may be taken, as approved by the Director, in the event of lesser weather disturbances, such as a tropical storm. In the event the Director is unavailable, the Assistant Director, Operations will assume these responsibilities. If the Assistant Director, Operations is unavailable, the Director of Marine Education Services will assume the responsibility. Phase II for Library: The staff will be informed that Phase II hurricane preparedness procedures have been initiated and that they should report to work immediately. The following actions will be initiated to protect unit resources.
Any remaining duties in preparation for evacuation must be completed. Final information, if available, on planned evacuation locations for staff should be collected. All information on preparations will then be forwarded to the Director. Once their duties are complete, the supervisor should inform the Director to confirm that staff can be released. ALL PERSONNEL WILL EVACUATE THE MSI FACILITIES
AFTER EVACUATION Emergency Communications: 1-800-689-0743 1. All staff and students should call the UTMSI Emergency 800 number (1-800-689-0743) to determine when it is safe to return to Port Aransas and report to work. Conditions in Port Aransas will be obtained from local authorities by the Director and Administration Staff. Advisories about returning to the island will be updated periodically on the Emergency number. Messages can be left and will be collected periodically. 2. The first attempt to contact the voice mail system should be made 24 hours after evacuation. Staff should leave a number where they can be contacted and continue to check the voice mail every 12 hours in regards to instructions to return to work. Information will also be posted on the MSI web site. 3. Cellular phones are also available for emergency communications. Key staff and faculty numbers are listed below. If for some reason the emergency number is not working, please use these alternate numbers to receive information about returning to MSI: 1-512-471-3285 - College of Natural Sciences (Monday-Friday, 8-5 p.m.) 1-512-471-4816 - Marine Science Office in Austin (Monday-Friday, 8-12 p.m.) 1-361-826-1100 - Corpus Christi Regional Emergency Operations Center (24 hours daily when activated) Satellite Phones: Director: 254-240-3823 Cellular Phone Numbers: Lee Fuiman 361-739-3678 Tony Amos 361-442-7638
Library Emergency Contact Numbers: Liz DeHart, MSI Librarian - 361-345-4243 Home, 361-850-0896 Cell
In case of disaster, first call BMS. Then call Nancy Elder above.
BMS Catastrophe Headquarters Other Local Numbers U.S. Coast Guard, Port Aransas - 361-749-5217 RETURNING TO UTMSI There are two categories of Disaster Cards issued to employees and residents. The Priority 1 cards are for Emergency Disaster Personnel only. These include the maintenance, boat, grounds some administrative staff and EH&S staff. Messages will be left on the emergency voice mail 1-800 number when they are authorized to return to MSI. The second card issued is a homeowner's card. Local authorities will determine when homeowners and all other staff members with these cards are allowed to return at a later time, and an appropriate notification will be posted on the emergency communications number. The Director will remain at the Austin Emergency Command Center as long as disaster assistance from the University is required or until University support staff is mobilized to perform that function. He will arrange for the safe transportation of an emergency cash reserve to MSI. Emergency Staff When return access authorization is received by the Director, the recorded message on the emergency 1-800 voice mail will be changed accordingly. Those individuals who are determined to be required will be notified directly, if possible, or through this method. The Assistant Director, Operations will keep regional news media informed of the status of the Institute so that radio and television broadcasts can keep reporting current. The City of Port Aransas and the Corpus Christi Regional Emergency Operations Center will also be kept informed so that their web sites can be kept current and any assistance that is required can be provided. Damage Assessment Emergency staff will check in with the Assistant Director on arrival at UTMSI. Maintenance "First Responders" will survey all buildings and rooms and make an initial assessment to the Director. The Assistant Director, Operations will establish contact with the UT Department of Environmental Health and Safety to discuss available assistance in damage assessment relating to hazardous materials and disposal as required. He/she will also establish contact with the UT Comptroller's Office Insurance Specialists and provide a preliminary damage report and initiate claims filing procedures. Any expenditures from the cash reserve for emergency services will be carefully recorded. The Assistant Director, Operations will establish contact with the UT Department of Environmental Health and Safety to discuss activating the Emergency Response Deployment Team, see Appendix A. Environmental Health & Safety Contacts: Env. Health & Safety Cellular: 1-512-658-2411
(EH&S) Pager: 1-512-875-0911
Irezama Anderson (Nena): 1-512-471-2044
Tracy Tipping
Ryan Green
John Oldag
Jason Shoumaker
Dennis Wortman
Comptroller/Insurance 1-512-499-4401
Campus Police 1-512-471-4441
If damage has occurred to laboratories or other locations which may have contained hazardous materials, entry should be delayed until contact has been established with EH&S or the individual responsible for that location. The Director will designate an individual to be the primary respresentative for humanitarian relief for MSI personnel. Safe housing and food for returning personnel will be the number one priority. Authority is granted to use MSI dormitories for temporary housing for MSI personnel if private residences are uninhabitable. |
