With the 2009 hurricane season upon us, University of Miami researchers can protect their data, equipment, and research models with the help of emergency preparedness checklists.

Prior to hurricane season: This checklist is the result of collective works of the Office of Research Emergency Management Team with assistance from UM Security, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Risk Management, and the Disaster and Extreme Event Preparedness Center.

When a hurricane is imminent: This checklist walks you through last-minute steps to prepare your laboratory before evacuating campus prior to a storm. Please note that these tools are provided to assist you and are not meant to replace requirements from UM Security, EHS, or your department.

This information is also available on the new emergency preparedness Web site for the UM research community at www.miami.edu/research/prepare. Whether you have experienced a storm or are new to the hurricane belt, your comments and questions are welcome. Contact Derek Aspinall at [email protected] or 305-243-2735, or contact Linda Waterman at [email protected] or 305-243-5396 for more information.