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Who knew Rice University could be the center of a storm?

SSPEED Center, that is. Hurricane Ike may be one for the record books, but experts from Rice University’s Center for Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) still have their eye on the storm. Established in 2007 to improve storm prediction, planning and evacuations, SSPEED recently gained strength with a $1.25 million grant from Houston Endowment. The two-year grant will enable center researchers to analyze information gathered from Ike and make recommendations about how best to prepare for future storms. Led by Rice engineering Professor Phil Bedient, SSPEED is partnering with seven universities plus the Environmental Defense Fund and the Houston–Galveston Area Council. In the future, SSPEED experts hope to save dollars and lives by improving the region’s ability to understand and deal with major storms. And with the 2009 hurricane season upon us, that’s called shelter from the storm.