A web page for the health and safety of everyone on campus, presented by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Safety Council and the Office of Institutional Advancement. For general information associated with this site, please contact Environmental Health & Safety at (713) 500-8100.

At This Time of Year, Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

As hard as it is to believe, June 1 rings in another hurricane season. But since hurricanes aren’t the only type of disaster that can threaten our community, the best advice is to take the time to create an “all hazards” emergency response plan for you, your family and your work unit. By doing this, you’ll be in better shape to respond to an event, whether the emergency is bad weather or pandemic flu.

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) has worked closely with many key units across the health science center to keep the institutional Emergency Situation Response Plan (ESRP) up to date and well practiced. The ESRP classifies the types of emergencies that might be encountered and the corresponding decision making teams to be assembled for each event.

But this overarching plan must be supplemented with unit specific plans. In other words, the ESRP contains contact information and decision-making authority for the highest levels of the university. But information or decisions must flow down to the individual operating units, and this is where team, division and departmental contact lists and plans must come into play.

To make our emergency response plan really work, everyone within the health science center is encouraged to do the following:

Take a few moments to review the plan at http://www.uth.tmc.edu/safety/emergency.html.
Pay particular attention to the locations where emergency information can be obtained, such as the Web site or central call-in phone numbers.
Also familiarize yourself with your department’s plan — some good questions to ask might be:

How do I call my supervisor or co-workers at home (or on cell phones) so we can communicate in the event of an emergency?
Is my unit or position considered absolutely critical for the continuation of operations in the event of an emergency?
Who would be my back up if I’m unable to perform my job?
Does that person know they are considered my back up?

Also, take the time to prepare at home.

Create an “all hazards” kit, as listed at http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html.
Make sure you have a plan for gathering family members (from schools, elderly parents’ homes, etc.).
Make plans to determine whether to shelter in place or when to leave your home or city.
Keep communication devices charged and gas tanks full.

And don’t be shy with questions — EH&S is available to help you in being as prepared as you can be.

— Robert “Safety Bob” Emery, Dr.P.H.

Date Posted: 05/23/2006