Post employees should be familiar with severe-weather policy

Barbara L. Sellers/Northwest Guardian

It’s that time of year again when everyone must be familiar with the severe-weather policy here.

“Fort Lewis seldom closes; everyone should report to work unless they are advised otherwise,” said James Kane, plans officer, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.

To minimize the effects of severe weather, however, Fort Lewis could be subject to differing levels of operational curtailment.

“If curtailment does go into effect (such as late-arrival or early-dismissal times), communication between employees and their supervisory chain is key,”

Kane said. “Supervisors in the chain of command serve as the primary source of information, and those conversations with employees (who will notify whom) should already have taken place.”

Most important, Kane said, in case of severe weather, employees should not call 911, the police or the field officer of the day watch office.

“It’s important to keep these phone lines open,” Kane said. “These agencies would not be able to provide information about each employee’s or Soldier’s personal work status, anyway.”

The proper sources of information about operational curtailment include the Fort Lewis and Madigan Army Medical Center public Web pages, the post’s operational-status hotline at 967-1733, or local radio and television stations. MAMC work-report status can be obtained by calling 968-3102 and choosing Option 5 from the menu.

“Some personnel designated as critical or mission essential have a different work-report criteria than the general population,” Kane said.

“Mission-essential personnel are those key service facility employees or Soldiers who must be present at work to ensure mission accomplishment, and these people should already know if they are designated as critical or mission essential.” The decision as to who must report will be made by the appropriate commander or supervisor, and may be verbal or in writing, he said.

“Critical personnel are medical staff, like doctors and nurses, police, firefighters, and other personnel designated in writing by the appropriate commander or supervisor,” Kane said. “Critical personnel include those who are needed to maintain the safety and welfare of the post.”

Employees who don’t already know if they are critical, mission essential or non-designated need to find out from their supervisors right now, he said.

“Supervisors should also inform everyone who they should contact, or give them a phone number to call for their reporting or release status,” Kane said.

Employees who report to work or duty after operations have already been curtailed should contact their supervisors to determine whether they can be excused from duty and their absence approved, he said. Also, he said employees who are more severely affected by road or weather conditions in the area where they live could request annual leave from their supervisors.

MAMC employees will receive information on rhe hospital’s severe-weather policy through their supervisory channels.