Galveston County Daily News, Oct. 16, 2008 This article states that layoffs are inevitable at UTMB in the wake of the damage caused by Hurricane Ike to numerous buildings. "The question, officials say, is exactly when and how many will lose their jobs after Hurricane Ike flooded buildings, including the hospital, and ran up $710 million in expenses at the island campus. . . . In a pivotal gathering of high-ranking state officials Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Appropriations Committee Warren Chisum and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden and other key decision makers met with medical branch and University of Texas System officials to get a handle on what the island institution needs to stay afloat and avoid cutting 4,000 jobs, a third of its work force."  The article states that Gov. Perry may convene another similar meeting as early as next week.