HARBOR BRANCH - OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

MASSIVE HURRICANE DAMAGE AT HARBOR BRANCH CURBED BY EMPLOYEE HEROICS

FT. PIERCE, Fla. -- Hurricane Frances dealt a severe blow to Harbor Branch Oceanographic, battering several major buildings that will now require extensive repairs. However, enough workspace remains undamaged that most scientific and other operations will be able to resume once power to the campus is restored. Total damage to the campus has not yet been estimated, but would have been much greater if not for comprehensive preparations made prior to the hurricane as well as the tireless efforts of ten employees who volunteered to ride out the long storm at Harbor Branch.

Though many employees are already working to clear debris and make repairs, the campus will remain closed through the week. If power can be restored and Hurricane Ivan does not track toward the area, most employees will be able to return to work on Monday. Campus tours for visitors will not resume for at least a month.

Much of the institution's most critical data, samples and other resources were protected in a hurricane-proof bunker across the street from the main campus. The Biomedical Marine Research group's 25,000+ marine organism samples are permanently housed in an ultra-cold freezer at the bunker to preserve them for analysis and reanalysis for the identification of chemicals with the potential to fight diseases. Other groups brought material to the bunkers in preparation for the hurricane.

One of the institution's two research vessels, the Seward Johnson II, was working safely in the Gulf of Maine, but the 204-foot Seward Johnson, was docked at Harbor Branch during the devastating storm with the ship's captain, chief mate, and three other crewmembers aboard. Besides protecting the ship, the team was able to watch most of the campus from the high vantage point of the ship's bridge, and radio to five employees staying in the bunker when they spotted damage occurring so that it could be limited as much as possible.

The ship was initially secured 25 feet off the north wall of the Harbor Branch channel using 17 ropes tied to pilings on shore. In addition, both anchors were lowered, and the ship's side thrusters were run in the opposite direction of prevailing winds. Nonetheless, midway through the storm's onslaught, the pilings began to give way, despite being buried 20 feet into the ground.

Several lines broke loose allowing the wind to push the ship's bow out. Faced with the prospect of losing control of the ship, crewmembers grabbed axes and quickly c ut away remaining ropes. The group was then able to control the ship's rapid movement across the channel where it was then re-secured with help from those on shore to the seawall on the south side. In time the hurricane winds switched direction and nearly caused the ship to break loose again, but crewmembers were able to secure it by tying off to nearby palm trees.

"It was intense," said Chief Mate Aric Anderson of the harrowing night and the 30 hours he and the others went without sleep. According to Dr. Shirley Pomponi, Harbor Branch's acting managing director, "They really are heroes."

In the end, the ship suffered only relatively minor scrapes, though a small boat moored to the seawall was unfortunately crushed.

Some of the major damage to Harbor Branch facilities included:

• Several roof sections on the Marine Science building, which houses coral, bioluminescence, deep-sea biology, fish and other research programs, were blown off leading to serious water damage to offices and laboratories. Researchers who had worked in the building will move to open space in other buildings until damage can be repaired.
• Harbor Branch's Oceans, Reefs, & Aquariums subsidiary, which raises clownfish, corals, and other animals for the saltwater aquarium industry, suffered major damage to several greenhouse facilities. In addition, half of the group's fish were lost when extended lack of power prevented proper tank operations. However, all but three of the 700 breeding pairs, or brood stock, that produce the fish the company raises and sells were saved thanks to safekeeping in the bunker.
• A canvas shelter that encloses the critical care pool used for rehabilitation of stranded and injured dolphins and whales was completely destroyed.
• A number of large windows in the J. Seward Johnson Education Center were blown out during the storm, leading to extensive water damage. Classes normally held there will be moved to a nearby dorm building until repairs are completed.

HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution was founded in Ft. Pierce, Fla., in 1971 to support the exploration and conservation of the world's oceans. The institution has held to this mission and grown into one of the world's leading oceanographic institutions with a 500-acre campus, over 200 personnel, and a fleet of sophisticated research ships and submersibles.