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Hurricane preparations require team effort by Julie Ham MUSC Engineering and Facilities Staff For those of us lucky enough to call the South Carolina coast home, the summer months can also bring weather woes.  In addition to the heat and humidity that are the season’s norm, the warmer weather marks the start of the June 1- Nov. 20 hurricane season.   The arrivals of Tropical Depression Arlene and Hurricane Dennis began what is slated to be a very active season. Hurricane Expert William Gray of Colorado State University predicts 15 named tropical storms, including four hurricanes of Category 3 (111-130 mph) strength or greater. The National Hurricane center predicts that there is a 59 percent probability of a major hurricane striking the U.S. East Coast this season.   During 2004, the most expensive hurricane season on record, Charleston felt the effects of four storms; hurricanes Alex, Charlie, and Frances, and Tropical Storm Gaston. As a result of the efforts of several organizations on campus, MUSC suffered minimal damage.  Although preparations for hurricane season occur year-round, there are a few steps that MUSC employees can take prior to a storm to minimize damage to the people and property here.   All employees, regardless of position, are reminded to follow the closing procedures outlined in the MUSC Severe Weather Plan. Universal duties include clearing desktops, protecting computers and equipment, copying appropriate files from hard drives onto diskettes and taking the diskettes with them.  A complete list of duties can be found in the Severe Weather Plan posted online at http://www.musc.edu/weatheremergency.    Plastic bags, duct tape, and rolls of plastic sheeting are available for purchase via IIT through the Engineering and Facilities storeroom. The storeroom, located on Sabin Street, can be reached by calling 792-9732.   The Engineering and Facilities staff will help prepare the campus for any storms by filling and placing sand bags in flood-prone areas, removing loose objects that could become projectiles, and protecting buildings with plywood and other storm supplies. Staff will remain on campus during the storm to minimize damage as much as possible. After the storm has passed, they will immediately begin clean-up operations. Additional employees will be called in as needed to assist with clean-up once travel is deemed safe.   While we will hope for a quiet 2005 season, in the event of a storm, a team effort by all employees at MUSC will help protect our people and property. For hurricane information, visit http://www.musc.edu/weatheremergency http://www.redcross.org http://www.nhc.noaa.gov Friday, July 15, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.