Be Prepared for Severe Weather
As the winter season comes upon us and the possibility of severe weather increases, it is a good time to review Duke's severe weather policy. During severe weather or emergency conditions, it is necessary that Duke University and Health System maintain essential services including hospital operations, keeping students safe in the dormitories, operating research facilities and providing necessary support and administrative services. Because of these responsibilities, it is important that Duke faculty and staff be prepared to operate safely and perform essential services efficiently during these conditions.
Service Categories and Support Services
To ensure that Duke maintains essential services and operations during severe weather, all jobs are categorized into three service categories. Staff members and supervisors should confirm the service category assignment for each employee and review responsibilities for when the severe weather policy is activated.
- For jobs classified as Essential Service, you must report to or remain at work when the severe weather policy is activated.
- For jobs classified as Reserve Service, staff will be assigned a status at the time the severe weather policy is activated.
- For jobs classified as Delayed Service, you do not report to work or remain at work when the severe weather policy is activated.
Each department is responsible for determining and communicating support services that will be provided for Essential Service staff, including childcare, meal passes, sleeping arrangements, parking and transportation.
Notification and Additional Information
In the event of severe weather, staff members should be notified of the activation and termination of the severe weather policy through their department notification process. Supervisors should be sure to have an updated list of staff members' home telephone numbers, pagers and cellular phone numbers.
In addition, severe weather updates for Duke University (including the School of Medicine and School of Nursing) will be available by phone at 684-INFO (4636) or on the web at
www.duke.edu. Other areas of the University and Health System also provide phone numbers to manage operational issues during severe weather. Those numbers are available on the severe weather web site at .
Additional information about the Severe Weather and Emergency Conditions
Policy, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the
severe weather web site.
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