Evac-Chair
Two UTSA buildings evacuated after gas line rupture
(Sept. 25, 2002)--The John Peace Library Building (JPL) and Arts Building on the UTSA 1604 Campus were briefly evacuated this morning after a contractor's backhoe struck a natural gas line in the construction area for the new Academic III Building. According to University Police Assistant Chief Dan Pena, emergency alarms were activated and the buildings were evacuated within seven minutes.
Due to the gas main break, food shops requiring gas service in the John Peace Library Building food court were closed, according to Erich Geiger, food service manager. The World’s Fare and Burger King stations were closed, but pizza, pasta and deli stations remained open, along with facilities in the University Center food court.
The evacuation brought back to light the university's purchase of 15 specially
designed chairs used to evacuate people who use wheelchairs. Identical to
those used on Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center, the "Evac-Chairs"
were purchased with funds provided by the UT System.
The UTSA offices of emergency preparedness and occupational and safety programs
installed chairs on the 1604 and Downtown campuses and at the Institute of
Texan Cultures. University police and other emergency personnel are trained
to assist persons in wheelchairs during evacuation drills or actual emergency
situations requiring evacuation. This morning's evacuation also punctuated
the need for individuals to volunteer as building captains and safety coordinators
for the 1604 Campus. A building captain is needed for each 1604 Campus building.
Ideally, a building captain's office would be located on the top floor of a building. Building safety coordinators are needed for each floor of every building. The telephone numbers of building captains will be programmed into the UTSA Emergency Telephone Notification System.
In the event of an emergency situation, building captains and safety coordinators would be notified to begin an evacuation. They will receive evacuation training from the UTSA fire and safety coordinator and the Office of Emergency Preparedness.
To volunteer as a building captain, e-mail Bill
Hamilton or Minnie Martinez.
See a list of UTSA Evac-Chair
locations.
Read a story about an Evac-Chair
9/11 rescue.
----------------------------------------------------------
TODAY'S HEADLINES:
TexPREP
program nominated for Texas Higher Education Star Award
Cornel
West to speak in San Antonio Sept. 28
UTSA
researcher receives grant to design vaccines
UTSA
Lyric Theatre to present 'Das Barbecu'
Two UTSA buildings evacuated after gas line rupture
U.S.
News ranks engineering college #46 in the nation
UTSA
ID = free admission to San Antonio Museum of Art
----------------------------------------------------------
© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002