The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is an 84-acre campus on Galveston Island that was devastated by Hurricane Ike. FEMA awarded the state of Texas more than $90 million, in the form of a Public Assistance Grant, for flood mitigation including FloodBreak passive flood barriers as part of dry floodproofing measures. FEMA requires that all non-residential structures that are located in Zone AE and are to be substantially improved must either have their lowest floors elevated to or above the base Flood Elevation (BFE) or be dry floodproofed (made substantially impermeable) to or above the BFE.
FloodBreak passive flood barriers were chosen to provide permanent impermeable passive protection, but also because they are designed to withstand hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, and impact forces produced by flooding or high water events. When completed, the Primary Care Pavilion will have 13 FloodBreak passive flood barriers protecting vulnerable entrances.
UTMB joins a growing list of protected hospitals:
- MD Anderson Cancer Center – Houston, TX
- Lourdes Hospital – Binghamton, NY
- Columbus Regional Hospital – Columbus, IN
- Bayshore Medical Center – Pasadena, TX
- Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth – Beaumont, TX
- Lebanon Medical Center – Lebanon, OH
- Cheyenne Medical Center – Cheyenne, WY
