UTHealth Houston Emergency Communications

UTHealth Houston employees and students may determine the institution’s operational status by the following means:

• Check your UTHealth Houston email. Look for an email from “UTHealth Houston Communications,” or “UT Police at Houston.”
• Go to the UTHealth Houston intranet. In the event of a weather emergency, the university will post information prominently on the page. Often, a banner is posted as well—in green, yellow, or red, depending on the severity of the event.
• The UTHealth Houston ALERT text message system is used for both weather and security-related emergencies. Employees and students are automatically enrolled in the system as long as they have provided an accurate cell phone number in Self-Service (unless they’ve opted out), but visitors and guests are not. For information on how to enroll, visit the UTHealth Houston ALERT intranet page.
• This webpage, UTHealthHoustonEmergency.org, will also be updated. This page is housed separately from the university’s email and intranet systems (with servers in a separate state). It’s the best place to check if the intranet isn’t loading, or if the weather is severe enough to cause severe flooding in the Texas Medical Center.
• UT Physicians: The status of operations at each UT Physicians clinic location is determined by UT Physicians administration. All UT Physicians staff and doctors are expected to report for duty at their scheduled time unless otherwise communicated. If there is a clinic closure, practice managers will notify staff using call trees that are maintained by each individual clinic. Status updates will also be available on UTPConnect.com, UTPhysicians.com, and UT Physicians’ social media channels.
• UT Dentists: The status of operations UT Dentists is determined by UT Dentists administration. All UT Dentists employees are expected to report for duty at their scheduled time unless otherwise communicated. If there is a clinic closure, practice managers will notify staff using call trees devised and maintained by each individual clinic. For clinical partnerships where UT Dentists provides care, operational status is determined at the individual location.
• UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus employees (UTHealth Houston Harris County Psychiatric Center and John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston) should call 713-741-5001.
• UTHealth Houston social media: Campus status information will be posted to the university’s Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

If these communication resources do not provide adequate information, employees should call their supervisors. All employees and supervisors should keep mobile phone numbers on hand so that they can reach each other in case of emergency. Supervisors should exercise their best judgment in allowing UTHealth Houston employees to use appropriate leave time in the event of family emergencies or concerns about getting to work safely. Employees should discuss their situation with their supervisor.

Employees who are defined by their department as “essential” as well as employees and students with clinical obligations at hospitals and other locations should check with their supervisors.

Essential employees have been designated by their department heads as essential to the continued performance of their department and/or the university. They include faculty and staff who are required to sustain clinical services and/or who are responsible for the protection of university assets. Essential employees will be required to report to their designated work site during their appointed work schedule even when the institution has been officially declared closed due to adverse conditions. If an essential employee cannot report to work, they must contact their direct supervisor to advise of the situation as soon as possible.

For more information see HOOP Policy 85: Controlled Access Status for Emergency, Disaster or Severe Weather in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) or the Emergency Management Plan, the UT Physicians Emergency Plan, or the UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus Emergency Plan.

If the university is forced to implement controlled access status, formal classes (whether virtual or in person) will be canceled. 

If classes are canceled in Houston, they are also canceled at the regional locations. However, class closures that are specific to a regional location do not impact the operational status of the Houston campus.

UTHealth Houston will communicate through email and the UTHealth Houston ALERT text message system about severe weather. If the emergency or weather is severe enough for the university to transition to controlled access or delayed opening, that information will first be shared through email. It will then be posted on the UTHealth Houston intranet inside.uth.edu and to this website.

During any emergency situation, you can expect to receive communications through this website for university-wide communications. Depending on the circumstances, the university’s schools may also communicate additional, specific information to employees and students.

• At the School of Dentistry, in case of unexpected circumstances requiring cancellation of appointments, patients who have scheduled appointments through axiUm will be notified by the automated system. Students and clinics are encouraged to touch base personally with their patients.
• At McGovern Medical School, third- and fourth-year students should check their emails regarding clinical rotation closures. Employees with offices in McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston Professional Building, or Jesse Jones Library Building may call 713-500-7999.
• At Cizik School of Nursing, students in the nurse anesthesia program are expected to meet their clinical obligations if the hospital is open.
• At the School of Public Health, those with clinical duties are still required to fulfill those duties.
• At MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, regarding lectures, didactic classes and other official on-campus school functions, the school will close when its first parent institution (UTHealth Houston or MD Anderson) closes, and reopen when the last one reopens. Notices about the status of classes will be posted on the school’s website. Students should follow their faculty advisor’s institutional policies to determine when to return/report to their laboratories. Visit the Graduate School Emergency Weather Page for more information. 

For more information see HOOP 85: Controlled Access Status for Emergency, Disaster or Severe Weather in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) or the Emergency Management Plan  , the UT Physicians Emergency Plan, or the UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus Emergency Plan.

It’s important to remember if the status of the university changes, there are certain employees who are deemed essential to protect life, property, environment, and/or to restore normal operations during or after an emergency, as outlined in HOOP Policy 141: Emergency Management and Business Continuity Plans.

These employees will be required to report to work when the status of the university has changed to controlled access status due to weather conditions or other emergencies.

There are two categories of essential personnel:

Category 1 includes: Executive Control Team members and Advisory Call personnel as listed in the university Emergency Management Plan as well as personnel from: Environmental Health and Safety; Facilities, Planning, and Engineering; UT Police at Houston; Information Technology; Office of Public Affairs; and animal care personnel.

Category 2 includes: Departmental personnel who will be the last to leave their area during an evacuation, and the first to re-enter when the facility is cleared; employees required to sustain clinical operations; and other personnel as designated by the department head. This group is responsible for securing property prior to evacuation. That could include controlled substances, perishables, turning off equipment, and covering sensitive property.

The procedure for determining the access status of the university is outlined in HOOP Policy 85: Controlled Access Status for Emergency, Disaster or Severe Weather.

• UT Police
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Facilities, Planning, and Engineering
• UTHealth Houston Recreation Center
• IT Solution Center
  • IT User Experience and Solution Center (intranet)

Call 911 for all emergencies.

Non-emergencies:

• To report suspicious activity or to request a courtesy escort out of a building, call UT Police at 713-792-2890. If this number is down, call 713-563-1049.
• To report a safety concern, contact the Office of Safety, Health, Environment, and Risk Management at 713-500-8100, osfp.safety@uth.tmc.edu, or through the after-hours hotline: 713-500-5832.
• To report building maintenance needs and issues, contact the Office of Facilities, Planning, and Engineering  Fix It team at 713-500-FIXT (713-500-3498) or FIXIT@uth.tmc.edu.

Reporting crimes:

• To report suspicious activity, call UT Police at Houston at 713-792-2890.
• All incidents, threats of violence, suspicious behavior, or violent acts must be reported to the STOP Line at 713-792-7867 (713-792-STOP).
• Instances of sexual misconduct, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, dating, or domestic violence must be reported to the Title IX office at 
• 713-500-CALL or CALL@uth.tmc.edu. UT Police can also assist. Additional information regarding reporting and supportive resources can be found at https://www.uth.edu/titleix/

Many behaviors may cause concern for the safety and well-being of an employee, patient or visitor, or for the institution as a whole. If you ever see behaviors of concern or feel threatened with violence from an employee, patient, or visitor, call 2-STOP (713-792-7867). Behaviors of concern may signal the need for intervention to prevent a violent incident.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ These calls can be kept confidential so there is no fear of retribution.​​​​​​​

Have you observed these warning signs?

• Unusual or sudden changes in behaviors or patterns
• Extreme reactions to a loss or a traumatic event 
• Preoccupation with weapons, violent events, or people who have engaged in violent acts
• Uncharacteristically poor work performance 
• References to harming others or planning a violent or destructive event
• Evidence of depression, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts or plans 
• Inappropriate responses such as prolonged irritability, angry outbursts or intense reactions
• Strained interpersonal relations, new or worsening social isolation, or low self-esteem 
• Significant change in life circumstances such as loss of a job or relationship
• Inappropriate search for or acquisition of proprietary or classified information on people unrelated to the employee’s work duties

These are helpful resources to review before and during any weather-related events.

Weather monitoring websites:

• National Hurricane Center
• Weather.com
• Space City Weather
  • Space City Weather’s Atlantic hurricane tracking site The Eyewall
• Houston Transtar Traffic Map

Flood warning websites:

• Harris County Flood Warning System
• TMC Flood Alert System
• FEMA Hurricane Evacuation Map

Preparation guides:

• Floods
• Hurricanes
• UTHealth Houston mobile app on Google Play and in the App Store

Public transportation in the Texas Medical Center

• Sign up for METRO Service Alerts to be alerted about changes in METRO’s schedule.
• Fort Bend County Public Transportation
  • Service Alerts
  • Schedules and Information
• The Woodlands Express
  • Research Forest Park & Ride 936-273-6100
  • Sawdust Park & Ride 281-363-0882

Guidance for hurricane watches or warnings:

• Monitor local TV or radio stations for instructions as well as communications from UTHealth Houston about preparedness and response activities on campus.
• Check supplies, especially water (at least one gallon per person/pet per day for up to seven days).
• Fuel vehicles and generators.
• Cover windows with plywood.
• Bring in all outdoor furniture, toys, and tools.
• Move out of evacuation zones early if told to do so by officials.
• Clean and fill bathtubs and all available containers with extra water.

Ensure preparations are also in place for work or school, as appropriate, to minimize the opportunity for property loss.

Guidance for during a hurricane:

• Remain in an interior hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest level of the house, and away from windows as long as it remains safe to do so.
• Seek shelter under something sturdy, such as a well-constructed dining room table, which could protect from debris.
• Stay informed of changing conditions from local officials.
• Have a secondary plan in the event your home floods. It is not recommended to evacuate to the attic, unless you can identify another way out.

Ride-out teams will often be stationed across the UTHealth Houston campus during major weather events. Stay tuned to UTHealth Houston intranet and other emergency communication channels for updated information about any potential impacts to campus.

If classes are canceled in Houston, they are also canceled at the regional locations. However, class closures that are specific to a regional location do not impact the operational status of the Houston campus.

In the event of an emergency, dial 911.