On Wednesday, August 23, at 3:09 p.m., every single member of The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston community received an email from UTMB President David Callender. It had the subject heading: “Tropical weather prompts UTMB to activate Emergency Operations Center.”  

At the time, Harvey was a tropical depression a few hundred miles from the coast. Over the course of the next ten days, the emergency emails told a story of how one institution faced a potential crisis with grace, compassion, toughness, and flexibility. In this issue of the Texas Health Journal, we’re telling that story in a timeline that draws on those emails. We're also mapping how UT institutions and people across the state came together to care for each other, support their communities, and stay safe before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey.

This issue of Texas Health Journal is just a small glimpse into the whole UT experience of Harvey, but even as a glimpse it says a lot about the depth of our commitment to each other and to the people of Texas.