Department of Comparative Medicine
The Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM) is committed to caring for your animals in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
Here are a few things you should know:
- During hurricane season the DCM stocks at least 2 weeks of supplies to care for the animals in the event of a major operations interruption.
- Animal transport causes stress and should be avoided, especially in emergency situations. Therefore, animals will remain in the Vivarium to ride out almost any emergency.
- Animals will be cared for by the DCM staff. The DCM staff is considered essential by Tulane University and can enter the premises when the campus is officially closed. Research staff is not considered essential regarding animal care and maintenance during emergency closures.
- If the conditions in the Vivarium are at a point where animals can no longer be maintained (lack of HVAC, electricity, water for an extended period) a decision will be made to begin euthanasia or evacuation of animals.
- Animal cages marked clearly with evacuation tape and an evacuation request form submitted may be evacuated (instead of euthanized) to an off-site location. There is no guarantee that conditions will be safe enough for DCM personnel to evacuate animals.
- The only animals that will be considered for evacuation are irreplaceable genetically engineered rodents that are not available from commercial vendors. One to two breeding pairs of each irreplaceable strain should be identified.
- Evacuation locations include: Baylor University in Waco, TX and Tulane National Primate Research Center in Covington, LA. Investigators will be charged per diems while animals are evacuated. Breeding will be managed by DCM personnel.
- Research staff is not allowed to evacuate their own animals. Animals that leave the Vivarium with anyone besides DCM supervised staff will not be allowed reentry and will be euthanized. This is necessary to protect the health of all colony animals.
- Evacuation is not guaranteed and is not possible in certain emergencies such as a fire, flood, chemical spill, etc.
- The DCM recommends cryopreservation of irreplaceable genetically engineered lines. Several different discounted options are available. Please see the DCM administrative staff for details and a quote for your lines.
For additional information please contact the DCM office:
Downtown (504) 988-5211
Uptown (504) 865-6717
