Author: Kenneth Bybee

Several buildings within the Texas Medical Center experienced power loss at approximately 9:35 a.m. on Feb. 12 due to a transformer failure at a nearby substation. Power was restored quickly. UTHealth Houston buildings impacted were:

*McGovern Medical School Building
*Cyclotron Building
*Sarofim Research Building
*Cizik School of Nursing Building
*Reuel A. Stallones Building

All systems functioned as designed during the power outage. For any questions about building issues, please contact Steven Bennett, executive director of maintenance, operations, real estate and contract services. Reports can be sent to FIXIT@uth.tmc.edu if anyone needs facilities, planning, and engineering support to verify systems and infrastructure.

As safety conditions have improved, UTHealth Houston will resume in-person learning and on-site operations on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

UT Physicians and UT Health Services clinics opened at noon on Monday, Jan. 26. All clinics at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry will reopen on Jan. 27. 

UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus and hospital partners, including Memorial Hermann Health System and Harris Health System, have resumed normal operations. Harris Health Ambulatory Care Services Clinics and services reopen on Jan. 27.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this period of disruption. As we return to normal operations, we remain grateful for your continued commitment to UTHealth Houston and our shared mission.

Due to the unsafe conditions created by inclement weather moving through the Houston area, UTHealth Houston will shift to remote learning and work for most of its activities on Monday, Jan. 26.

For students, classroom and clinical activities will either be remote or canceled at the direction of the schools. Nonclinical employees who can work remotely are encouraged to do so, provided it is approved by their supervisor, and their remote work area is not actively affected by adverse conditions including power outages, internet disruptions, etc. Employees defined by their departments as essential should contact their supervisor.

Clinical activities
UT Physicians will delay the opening of clinics until noon on Monday, Jan. 26. UT Physicians employees should monitor their emails, phones, UTPhysicians.com, and the UT Physicians intranet for information regarding clinic delays or closures.

All UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry appointments scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26 will be rescheduled, and all scheduled classes/labs have been canceled for that day. UT Dentists personnel and UTHealth School of Dentistry students, residents, faculty, and staff should monitor their email and the school website and social media accounts for updates on clinical operations.

UT Health Services and Employee Health will delay opening on Monday, Jan. 26 until noon to allow for safer travel conditions. For more information visit their website.

UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus is no longer on emergency status. Employees should call 713-741-5001 to check the status of the psychiatric center.

Faculty and staff members working with our hospital partners, including Memorial Hermann Health System and Harris Health System, should check with their supervisors.

Other operations
UTHealth Houston’s Recreation Center, Shuttle Services, and valet service at UTHealth Houston Professional Building-Texas Medical Center will resume normal operations on Monday, Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.

Your safety is top priority
We encourage you to be safe and vigilant during this weather event. 

The UTHealth Houston Safety, Health, Environment, and Risk Management team is monitoring the evolving weather conditions within the Texas Medical Center and across our region. Any changes to campus operations will be communicated through the UTHealth Houston Emergency Communications website, UTHealth Houston ALERT, Inside UTHealth Houston, and university social media channels.

We anticipate being able to resume in-person learning and work on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Please continue to monitor conditions, along with city and county orders. For additional information, the following resources may be helpful:

• Space City Weather
• Winter weather safety tips
• Road conditions across Texas
• METRO alerts
• Warming centers operated by local officials
• Tracking the state’s power grid

Further updates will be shared, as conditions change over the next few days. In the meantime, please take appropriate precautions, stay informed through official updates, and prioritize your personal safety.

Forecasts indicate Houston may experience freezing temperatures and wintry precipitation beginning late Friday, Jan. 23, with impacts possibly lasting through Monday, Jan. 26. Travel may be hazardous, especially on elevated roadways. Use caution and plan accordingly. As conditions progress, visit this page and the Inside intranet for updates. Any changes to university operations will also be shared through UTHealth Houston ALERT.

UTHealth Houston is currently experiencing service disruptions affecting the university and UT Physicians websites, as well as PeopleSoft and other administrative applications. Our IT teams are aware of the issue and are actively working to restore full functionality. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.