To the UHCL Community:

Gulf Storm Isaac (now a Tropical Storm) has entered the Gulf of Mexico.  It is expected to make landfall early Wednesday morning as a Category 1 Hurricane in Louisiana (New Orleans area).  Computer models show the likelihood of the storm hitting the Houston/Galveston region as low, but there is still the possibility.  The UHCL Police Department maintains communication with the Texas Department of Emergency Management and will be monitoring the storm.  If Isaac changes course towards us, you will be notified and provisions will be made to safeguard campus and the UHCL community. 

Please remember, when there is a school closure an email will be sent out and depending on the nature of the closure, so will text alerts.  In addition, the UHCL Information Hotline (281-283-2221) will be updated if there is a change t campus operational status.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at policechief@uhcl.edu.

To The UHCL Community,

Good afternoon!

As you may know, Texas is experiencing an increase in West Nile Virus activity this year.   While the number of human cases of West Nile Virus in Harris County is not at the level of other parts of Texas, there is a rise of West Nile Virus circulating throughout the county in mosquitoes and birds. 

In an effort to ensure that you have appropriate prevention information and to encourage you to protect yourself and your family, the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services Office of Public Information has provided the below information to guide you.

Protect Yourself from the West Nile Virus with the 4 D’s

1. Stay indoors at DUSK and DAWN.  This is the time of day that mosquitoes are most active.
2. DRESS in long sleeves and pants, loose and light colored clothing when outdoors.
3. DEFEND yourself from mosquitoes by using an insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.  Follow the label for application instructions.
4. DRAIN standing water in your yard and neighborhood.  Also make sure tha flower pots, water dishes, bird baths and wading pools are properly drained so they are not breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Fight the Bite!

Reduce your Risk.  Enjoy the outdoors, but remember to protect yourself and your family from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus. Your best defense against being bitten is simply to be prepared. Help Fight the Bite!

• When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing the active ingredient DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 to reduce exposure to mosquito bites. Always apply as directed on the label. Do not allow young children to apply repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them.
• If possible, wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants when outdoors at dawn and dusk which are peak mosquito biting times.
• Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants.
• Don’t feed the storm drains. Sweep up lawn clippings, leaves and tree limbs from sidewalks and driveways.
• Remove/empty containers that can hold water such as flowerpots, buckets, tires, toys and plastic swimming pools. Birdbaths and pet water bowls should be changed at least twice a week.
• Cover your boat or store in a covered place. Drain any standing water and make sure the bilge pump is working. Turn over canoes, kayaks and small boats to store upside down.
• Keep rain gutters clean and draining and repair any outdoor household leaks.
• When watering the lawn, be aware of any excess water that may accumulate. Fill in low areas around the yard.
• When mosquitoes are noticed in your yard, spray with an outdoor mosquito spray. Be sure to use according to directions on the label.
• To control mosquitoes in your house, use a “flying insect spray”. Be sure to use according to directions on the label.
• Household pets can be exposed to West Nile Virus . Contact your veterinarian for more information.

Remember, the most severe cases of West Nile Virus present themselves in the very young and the very elderly.  While taking precautions for yourself and family, take especial care of your children and older relatives.  If you would like more information on West Nile Virus, please visit the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services website at www.hcphes.org and view the 2012 West Nile Virus Response webpage.

To: UHCL Faculty, Staff and Students

Every effort is made to maintain normal operations of all facilities at University of Houston-Clear Lake; however, there are times when emergencies, most often weather-related, warrant closure of our campus. In preparation for the 2012 hurricane season (June 1 - November 30), we should all take a moment to review university closure procedures.

Sole responsibility for the decision to close the university in the case of any threatened or actual emergency rests with the president. The decision to open following such a closing, likewise, rests with the president. In the president's absence, his designee in the following sequence makes the decision to open or close the university: 1) Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, 2) Vice President for Administration and Finance, 3) Executive Associate to the President.

For weather-related emergencies, the UHCL Chief of Police or his designee is responsible for monitoring the National Weather Service System for severe storm, tornado, hurricane and flooding watch/warning reports. This information is used by the president or his designee to make the decision to close or reopen the university.

UHCL's Executive Director of Communications or her designee is responsible for coordinating university closing or opening announcements with the University of Houston System as well as notifying the local news media. Contacting the media in a coordinated fashion is necessary to minimize the possibility of public confusion or misunderstanding, given the similarity of institutional names and the likelihood that individual UHS universities will make different decisions regarding closings.

If the university is in session at the time of the emergency, the decision to close will be conveyed to faculty, staff and students by use of a public address system, UHCL's emergency website, email, telephones and/or word of mouth. If not in session, the president or his designee will notify each vice president, who, in turn, will notify faculty and staff members of decisions to close or reopen. UHCL Emergency Information emails and text messages will be sent as appropriate to update faculty, staff and students. Media coverage enhances this effort and conveys the information to the community-at-large.

During inclement weather, it is vital for everyone to stay abreast of news coverage about weather or road conditions and emergency information regarding personal safety and evacuation instructions. Recognizing the diverse range of personal circumstances faced by individuals, UHCL urges faculty, staff and students to make decisions in the best interest for themselves and their families. Employees who are unable to report for regularly scheduled work hours should coordinate anticipated vacation or other applicable leave with their direct supervisors before taking time off while the university is open and operating under normal conditions. Students who are unable to attend scheduled classes should coordinate missed sessions and coursework with their professors.

It is important to note that UHCL is not authorized, nor prepared, to serve as a general shelter for employees, students or the general public. If UHCL is closed, only essential emergency management and response personnel may remain in the university buildings or on the campus grounds. This is not a matter of personal choice. Remaining in your office, a classroom or anywhere else on campus once the university is closed puts you at risk and could endanger emergency personnel who may have to rescue or assist you.

The best sources of information as to whether the university is open or closed are the UHCL Hotline (281-283-2221) and UHCL Emergency Information website (www.UHCLemergency.info). 

William A. Staples
President

To: UHCL Faculty, Staff and Students

With the 2012 hurricane season under way, we want to remind our campus community about the importance of providing and/or updating your emergency contact information. 

University of Houston-Clear Lake maintains an online emergency information center (http://www.uhclemergency.info/) to enhance communication with students, faculty and staff during emergency situations or inclement weather.

Through the Public Information and Emergency Response (PIER) system, UH-Clear Lake may send messages to your UHCL and personal email addresses and has the capability of sending text messages if needed. Most messages will be sent by email; however, text messaging will be used during incidents requiring immediate action or response.

Please take a moment to check the accuracy of and/or update your emergency contact information today to help ensure you receive vital information from the university in a timely and reliable manner during emergencies.

Click on the appropriate link below for instructions on updating your emergency contact information.

Students, click here.

Faculty & Staff, click here.

To All UHCL Community Members:

In compliance with federal statutes, the University of Houston-Clear Lake completes and makes available to the public a comprehensive safety and security report and fire safety report each year covering statistics from the previous completed calendar year.  The 2009 Campus Safety and Security Report and the 2009 Fire Safety Report are now posted and available for download at the following links:

2009 Campus Safety and Security: http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/POL/index/Alerts%20%20News/2009%20Annual%20Report.pdf

2009 Fire Safety: http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/RSK/Safety/Fire%20Safety

Please remember that current 2010 crime statistics and links to other police and parking services are available 24/7 from the UHCL Police Website at www.uhcl.edu/police.  If you have questions pertaining to the Campus Safety and Security report, please contact Chief Willingham at policechief@uhcl.edu.

Links to 2010 fire safety programs are available 24/7 from the UHCL Risk Management Website at http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/RSK.  If you have questions pertaining to the Fire Safety Report, please contact Mr. Harry Stenvall, Director of Risk Management at Stenvall@uhcl.edu.