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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: Scott Rusk, 785-532-1333, jsrusk@k-state.edu; and Ron Trewyn, 785-532-5110,
trewyn@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/ruskbio.html
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/trewynbio.html
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Friday, June 13, 2008

K-STATE'S BIOSECURITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CONTINUES TO OPERATE DURING TORNADO

MANHATTAN -- Pat Roberts Hall, home to Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute, came out of Wednesday night's tornado unscathed and backup systems designed to keep the building up and running worked as expected.

"We didn't even see our lights flicker," said Scott Rusk, director of Pat Roberts Hall. "The tornado came within a quarter mile of the facility and the building stayed up and running and functional. It performed beautifully."

The institute is the most recent addition to the university's laboratory facilities, allowing researchers the ability to safely study high-consequence food and agricultural pathogens. Because the institute is a high-level biocontainment facility, it is equipped with back up air handling, water and sewage systems, dual electrical feed s, as well as automated stand-by generator capacity to ensure that it continues to operate. None of those back-up systems were triggered during the storm.

"The building is designed to withstand and remain functional during an event like a severe tornado," Rusk said. "Based on the design of the facility and the trials we've run on the building to date, this was an expected outcome." Building officials monitored the facility both before and after the tornado hit the K-State campus.

Buildings that were damaged on campus include Cardwell Hall, Burt Hall, the engineering complex and the Wind Erosion Laboratory. Damage also was reported in several parking lots. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon house sustained extensive damage.
Ward Hall, which houses K-State's nuclear reactor, was also damaged, though the reactor remained safe and unharmed.
Ron Trewyn, K-State's vice president for research, said the coordinated response to this disaster, both on and off campus, has been impressive.

"This experience has proven that should there ever be any kind of emergency involving the Biosecurity Research Institute, the nuclear reactor, or like research facilities on or near campus, that we have a battle-tested and experienced team here at K-State to ensure a timely and effective response," he said. "Clearly, contingency planning and training pay off."

For additional information about or for pictures of tornado damage at K-State, go to http://www.k-state.edu/media