Thursday, September 4, 2008
HTML Update
It appears there was no damage to the library building or at the offsite depository during Hurricane Gustav. As noted on the university's alert line, the university will reopen Saturday, September 6. The library will be open 10 AM-5 PM Saturday and 12 PM-6 PM Sunday, September 7. Library staff should continue to monitor Tulane's Alert Line and Emergency site for any change in upcoming hours or schedule changes. At this time, we anticipate regular hours will resume Monday, September 8.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Employee Registration Hotline
Here is an important reminder from Anne Banos, dated 8.27.08:
"If the university enacts our evacuation plan, make sure that you call the Tulane Employee Registration Hotline within 3 days of the storm passing. The number is 1-877-TULANE8 (1-877-885-2638). This call allows the university to ensure that all employees are safe and accounted for, as well as allows the university to maintain payroll during and after an emergency. If you do not check-in with this service after a hurricane evacuation, you may not continue to receive your salary."
"If the university enacts our evacuation plan, make sure that you call the Tulane Employee Registration Hotline within 3 days of the storm passing. The number is 1-877-TULANE8 (1-877-885-2638). This call allows the university to ensure that all employees are safe and accounted for, as well as allows the university to maintain payroll during and after an emergency. If you do not check-in with this service after a hurricane evacuation, you may not continue to receive your salary."
Friday, August 29, 2008
How the Library Responds to Emergencies
The library response to emergencies including storm events like Gustav is coordinated by a group called the Library Emergency Response Team (LERT). Its members include Lance Query, Library Dean; Andy Corrigan, Associate Dean; Anne Houston, Director, Public Services; Donna Capelle Cook, Director, Technical Services; Bill Meneray, Assistant Dean, Special Collections; Miriam Espinosa, Director, Budgets and Administrative Services; Hayden Battle, Head of Circulation and Interlibrary Loan; and Hortensia Calvo, Director, Latin American Library. The LERT also includes representatives from the independent firm BELFOR which handles disaster mitigation, salvage, and restoration; Aggreko, which maintains the temporary HVAC system for the Howard-Tilton building; Tulane Facilities Services; and Library Associates Companies, which staffs our Recovery Center at 900 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway.
The LERT maintains communication links during emergencies and has access to a current list of all library personnel names, phone numbers, and alternate email addresses. The list is maintained in the Library Administrative Office. In addition, in advance of events such as weather emergencies each library department head is also given a current list of employees with phone numbers and alternate email addresses by the Administrative Office. Before departing for an emergency event each staff member is referred to Tulane’s emergency response procedures and the Tulane ALERT Line (862-8080 or 1-877-862-8080) for updated info. In the event of an evacuation, library personnel, once settled, should try to contact their supervisors to provide an update of their status and supervisors will try to reach any staff member from whom they have not heard.
In the event of an emergency or disaster, the LERT may form a Disaster Response Team (DRT) whose members could be called in after members of the LERT have assessed the damage and deemed it necessary for the DRT to also respond. Members of the DRT would depend on the specifics of the event, its scope, and the areas of the library affected. But department heads or bibliographers should be aware that they may be called upon to join, assist, or advise the DRT or to assist in finding a qualified proxy from their area to respond if needed. The library members of LERT will provide guidance and direction but BELFOR, while under contract with Tulane, would be called upon to directly handle the stabilization of library materials, the building, and its climate as needed even in only minor events in which relatively few collection materials are damaged since the library is presently without preservation/conservation services of its own.
Aggreko handles maintenance and repair of the temporary HVAC system attached to the rear exterior of the Howard-Tilton building and extending inward through its windows. Given the present vulnerable condition of the Howard-Tilton building, Tulane’s Facilities Services department will be called in quickly after storm events to look for and treat any resulting damage quickly, and especially to close off any openings should Aggreko’s temporary HVAC towers pull away from the rear of the building.
For this and other storm events, library personnel should monitor the Tulane Alert Line, the Tulane web site, this blog for Library Emergency Information, and local media for important campus information. Stay safe.
The LERT maintains communication links during emergencies and has access to a current list of all library personnel names, phone numbers, and alternate email addresses. The list is maintained in the Library Administrative Office. In addition, in advance of events such as weather emergencies each library department head is also given a current list of employees with phone numbers and alternate email addresses by the Administrative Office. Before departing for an emergency event each staff member is referred to Tulane’s emergency response procedures and the Tulane ALERT Line (862-8080 or 1-877-862-8080) for updated info. In the event of an evacuation, library personnel, once settled, should try to contact their supervisors to provide an update of their status and supervisors will try to reach any staff member from whom they have not heard.
In the event of an emergency or disaster, the LERT may form a Disaster Response Team (DRT) whose members could be called in after members of the LERT have assessed the damage and deemed it necessary for the DRT to also respond. Members of the DRT would depend on the specifics of the event, its scope, and the areas of the library affected. But department heads or bibliographers should be aware that they may be called upon to join, assist, or advise the DRT or to assist in finding a qualified proxy from their area to respond if needed. The library members of LERT will provide guidance and direction but BELFOR, while under contract with Tulane, would be called upon to directly handle the stabilization of library materials, the building, and its climate as needed even in only minor events in which relatively few collection materials are damaged since the library is presently without preservation/conservation services of its own.
Aggreko handles maintenance and repair of the temporary HVAC system attached to the rear exterior of the Howard-Tilton building and extending inward through its windows. Given the present vulnerable condition of the Howard-Tilton building, Tulane’s Facilities Services department will be called in quickly after storm events to look for and treat any resulting damage quickly, and especially to close off any openings should Aggreko’s temporary HVAC towers pull away from the rear of the building.
For this and other storm events, library personnel should monitor the Tulane Alert Line, the Tulane web site, this blog for Library Emergency Information, and local media for important campus information. Stay safe.
Hurricane Gustav
The university will officially close at noon on Friday, August 29 due to hurricane preparations. The library will remain open until 5 p.m. on Friday. Library hours after Friday will depend on the course of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Gustav. Updated library hours will be posted on this blog and the main library website. Stay safe! And don't forget to check the Tulane AlertLine for official news on the university's reopening.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Welcome to the emergency blog
The purpose of this blog is for internal library communication in the event of a hurricane evacuation or other emergency. Click on the links to the right for official university policies regarding emergencies. Remember to check the Tulane alert line at 862-8080 or 1-877-862-8080 for the latest information on the university's status.
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