« Listen to the Medievalist!! | Main | On teaching Dante »
September 22, 2005
Me, I'm Praying for Rice.
We never had a serious hurricane while I was an undergraduate (1980-1984), but there were enough photographs around of the campus flooded for me to be concerned for alma mater.
They've cancelled Friday's classes which may be a first. From the emergency document we read:
Rice buildings are almost all strong stone and brick construction, with roofs that are sturdy and well maintained and thresholds 45 feet above sea level. This contrasts with the portions of New Orleans flooded by Hurricane Katrina, which were below sea level and flooded by Lake Ponchartrain when levees broke.Campus officials will designate the safest buildings, and areas within those buildings (e.g., away from windows), for students to take shelter.
The Rice administration is rechecking emergency plans and supplies.
In place are:
* Food and water sufficient for all campus residents for at least three days.
* A well to provide potable water sufficient to campus needs.
* The campus power co-generation plant, which can provide power for essential operations of the campus so long as natural gas lines remain operational.
* Emergency electrical generators, whose fuel tanks are being topped off, as back up to regular power sources and the co-generation plant.
* Checks to ensure that all storm drains and storm sewers are clear and pumps are in full working condition.
Posted by CrankyProfessor at September 22, 2005 10:36 AM