Laboratories are spaces of precision, where experiments, research, and breakthroughs happen in controlled environments. But when a natural disaster like a hurricane strikes, control can be lost in an instant. Preparing your laboratory for a hurricane is essential not only to protect valuable equipment and research but also to ensure the safety of personnel. Here is some expert advice and lessons learned from past disasters that can help you prepare.
1. Elevate and Protect Equipment
Elizabeth Braun, Ph.D., the Laboratory Safety Institute's content director, who lives in disaster-prone Houston, stresses the importance of keeping cords and equipment elevated. “Make sure all equipment is off the floor. Like way, way off the floor,” was the first thing that came to her mind when asked about preparing a lab for a hurricane. This is crucial since flooding is often a significant issue during hurricanes. However, Braun also points out that water can come from unexpected places—like the ceiling—so it’s important to be prepared for water everywhere. She also recommends boarding windows to prevent damage from wind and debris.
2. Plan for Power Loss
A key concern during and after a hurricane is the loss of power. Braun warns that power outages can be extensive, and any samples that require refrigeration or incubation should be prepped ahead of time. If your laboratory deals with temperature-sensitive materials, use backup power generators to keep essential equipment like specimen freezers running. If backup power is not available, consider temporary storage in coolers.
Tim Barton, Director of Research Safety Affairs at the University of Tennessee, echoes the need for backup power, and stresses the need for an emergency response plan that includes securing stored materials in the event of power loss or physical damage to the lab space.
3. Safe Chemical Storage
Both Braun and Barton emphasize the dangers of improper chemical storage during hurricanes. Braun points out that chemicals sitting in a humid, hot, and poorly ventilated environment pose a significant risk of reacting with moisture in the air. To mitigate this, ensure that all chemicals are stored securely, and off-floor storage should be prioritized to protect from flooding.
Barton advises that laboratories should have all hazardous waste picked up before a storm and ensure that chemicals are not stored on open shelves where they could be knocked over by wind or flooding. Electrical cords should also be removed from the floor to avoid electrocution hazards when water enters the lab.
4. Water Safety and Emergency Supplies
Barton also highlights the need for safe water supplies. In the event of a water boil advisory, having sufficient deionized water available can ensure lab work can continue when clean water is unavailable. Stocking up on emergency supplies such as first aid kits, drinking water, and food for staff who may need to shelter in place is also a must.
5. Shelter and Evacuation Plans
If there is a chance any staff will be working when the hurricane hits, identify a shelter-in-place location and ensure that evacuation routes are clear and known by all staff members. “Ensure staff have contact info updated and ready to go,” Barton adds. It's important that communication remains clear during the chaos of a disaster.
Emergency contact information should be posted on the lab doors, and personnel should be well-versed in the emergency plan so that they can act quickly if needed.
6. Minimize Disruption to Ongoing Experiments
Hurricanes are often predictable to some extent, with forecasts providing several days of warning. This time is crucial for managing ongoing experiments. Barton advises that labs should plan experiments accordingly to minimize disruption. For example, avoid starting long-term experiments or time-course studies close to the expected arrival of a hurricane to avoid losing valuable work. "Have contact info available to identify who to report loss claims," he adds.
7. Lessons from Past Lab Disasters
The damage from hurricanes and other natural disasters can be catastrophic. History shows us that natural disasters have caused irreparable damage to some of the world’s most valuable research facilities. In 2003, wildfires destroyed six telescopes at the Australian National University’s Mount Stromlo Observatory. In 2000, wildfires in New Mexico caused $300 million in property damage and destroyed decades of polymer research at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Learning from these disasters, experts recommend preparing not only for the immediate aftermath but for the long-term recovery process. It’s important to maintain relationships with other labs, as relocation might be necessary. Glaciologist Martin Sharp, who lived through a disaster at the Canadian Ice Core Archive, advises: “Don’t trust the technology, even if you have a lot of confidence in it.” In an article in Nature, Sharp said technology failures are at the root of many lab disasters.
8. Develop and Practice Your Emergency Plan
It’s not enough to create an emergency plan—you must practice it regularly. Run drills with the entire lab team so that every member knows which equipment and samples are most critical to salvage and where they are located. These drills should include instructions on how to rescue valuable items quickly and safely.
Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best
No one likes to imagine worst-case scenarios, but being unprepared can have disastrous consequences for your research, your team, and your career. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and other natural disasters, contingency plans must unfortunately be expanded. A well-prepared lab can better weather the storm and continue advancing scientific progress, even in the face of today's environmental realities.
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