Annual flood door drill tests university’s hurricane readiness

With hurricane season approaching, UTHealth Houston once again tested its flood defense systems through a carefully coordinated annual drill Saturday that underscores how far the university has come since the devastation of Tropical Storm Allison in 2001.

Causing $87 million in damage to McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston alone, Allison led to massive losses in research and infrastructure. In response, UTHealth Houston invested heavily in a multilayered flood mitigation system that includes 23 submarine-style flood doors, an elevated berm with pumps, and a reinforced hydrostatic wall.

“This is just one example of how we ensure a safe and reliable campus,” said Bobby Watson, executive director of utilities, controls, energy and sustainability management at UTHealth Houston. “We do everything we can to stay ahead of the game.”

Coordinated campuswide effort
The annual flood door drill, held each May ahead of hurricane season, mobilizes multiple departments for a two-hour operation that tests every component of the university’s flood defense.

The day begins with a briefing, followed by training on how to safely and properly close the heavy submarine-like doors.

“We split into seven teams, each responsible for closing two or three doors,” Watson said. “The goal is always 100% success, each door fully sealed and pressurized for at least 30 minutes.”

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), work control, facilities staff from multiple buildings, and controls and utilities experts all take part.

Sensors on the flood doors track air pressure and magnetic locks, feeding real-time data to the building automation system.

“If you inflate the seal before closing the door, you can damage it. Some of those seals aren’t easy to replace,” Watson said. “If something fails, like a leaky Schrader valve, we try to fix it on the spot.”

Flood doors around campus
Originally, flood door protections were only installed at McGovern Medical School. Today, the Jesse Jones Library and the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health buildings also house flood doors to protect essential areas such as research labs, the clinical skills center, MRI suites, and infrastructure for building cooling systems.

“Every area has something important. In the medical school’s north basement, for example, if floodwater reaches the fire pump or domestic water system, it can knock the whole building offline,” Watson said.

Year-round preparedness
While the doors are tested annually, preventive maintenance is ongoing year-round. Each door is part of a digital maintenance program to ensure functionality beyond hurricane season.

“Flooding in Houston doesn’t always happen during hurricane season,” Watson said. “You just never know. We’ve got to be ready.”

UTHealth Houston’s readiness also includes designated ride-out teams trained to remain on campus during major storms. “If you’re on that team, you’re not evacuating. You’re staying here to make sure everything continues to run,” Watson said.

A model of collaboration
Watson emphasized the unique working relationship between EHS and Facilities as a cornerstone of the program’s success.

“Not every university has that kind of partnership,” he said. “This drill is one of the highlight activities where our departments team up and show how effective that collaboration can be.”

UTHealth Houston community members are also encouraged to stay informed during weather events through the UTHealth Houston ALERT system and the university’s emergency website, UTHealthHoustonEmergency.org.

With the increasing frequency and severity of storms, Watson said the university’s proactive stance is more critical than ever.

“We track systems early, often a week before any real threat,” he said. “It’s all about giving ourselves the time and tools to protect people, property, and research.”