• Childcare
• Parking Arrangements
• Busing & Transportation
• Driving in Severe Weather
• Home Preparations
• Dining Facilities
• Meal Passes
• Safety Tips
• Sleeping Arrangements

Childcare - Essential Service Category Only

Because instances of severe weather or emergency conditions may dictate the need for alternate childcare, Duke University and Health System will make individual decisions about when and how to provide childcare for staff members assigned to the Essential Service category upon the designation of severe weather/emergency conditions. Duke may provide childcare arrangements according to need and organizational/entity procedures. Staff assigned to the Essential Service category should plan in advance to address childcare needs. Your supervisor is available to assist in planning and the Staff Member Personal Preparedness Plan should be utilized in this effort.

Pre-registration must take place by providing your designated childcare coordinator with the necessary registration information. This information should be updated on a yearly basis and you may contact your supervisor or designated childcare coordinator for assistance.

Severe Weather Childcare Program -- Duke University Health System offers the Severe Weather Child Care program to provide eligible staff with quality and convenient child care when Duke's severe weather policy is activated. The benefit will help eligible staff manage the demands of work and family during periods of severe weather when regular child care arrangements may not be available.  

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Parking Arrangements - Essential Service Category Only

All Duke parking garages will be made available to staff assigned to the Essential Service category, free of charge, for the duration of the severe weather / emergency condition event. Spaces will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking lots will be cleared as quickly as possible to provide access to Duke's facilities during periods of severe weather. You can visit a map to see the priority status for the clearing of parking lots during severe weather. Priority for clearing is given to lots near critical operational areas and lots where large numbers of people need access (e.g. patient care facilities).

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Busing & Transportation - Essential Service Category Only

Each Duke organization/entity is responsible for developing transportation arrangements based on need. Contact your supervisor for specific guidelines.

During severe weather, every effort will be made to continue transit services. Schedules may be adjusted based on road conditions and available parking. (See map of busing routes.)

Transit service during severe weather will be provided in the following priority order:

• H - 2 (PG 3 to Hospital North)
• PR -1 (Entry 11 to Bassett Drive via Circuit Drive)
• PR - 2 (Bassett Drive to Bryan Center via Science Drive)
• C - 1 (East to West Campus)
• H - 3 (H Lots on Yearby only to Hospital North)
• C - 2 (East Campus to West Campus via Central Campus)
• H - 1 (PG 3 to Hospital North & South)

Transit service to outlying parking lots will be provided once the routes have been cleared. As conditions improve, all campus and hospital routes will resume their regular schedules as quickly as possible.

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Tips for Driving in Severe Weather/Emergency Conditions

• Avoid low-lying areas and underpasses.
• Know safe alternate routes, along high ground, between home and work.
• Beware of downed power lines and debris
• Do not cross flooded roads. You can get stranded even in shallow water.
• Do not enter areas that are posted or blocked with emergency signage.
• If you must evacuate, disconnect electrical equipment if it is safe to do so.
• Take your keys and valuables.
• Drive slowly and cautiously.
• Be careful of "black" ice on highways.
• Clean debris, snow and/or ice off of car windows, bumpers and roof before driving.

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Home Preparations

Make sure to secure the following:

• Flashlight, battery-operated radio and/or television.
• Batteries (AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt).
• Sturdy shoes, blankets and extra clothing.
• Back-up eye glasses, medications, and sanitation supplies.
• Bottled water (one gallon per day for people and pets).
• Emergency food for at least three days (people and pets).
• Manual can opener.
• Special items for infants, elderly or disabled household members.
• Candles and matches.
• Tools: crescent wrench, crowbar, shovel, heavy work gloves.
• Heavy tape and plastic sheeting.
• Batteries (AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt).
• Address book to include emergency phones numbers such as physician, power company, phone company, gas company, etc.
• Cell phone and car charger.
• Cash and important documents.

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Dining

During severe weather, Duke University Dining Services will open as many units as possible. The initial focus will be to open the two larger venues, The Great Hall on West Campus and the East Campus Marketplace.

Duke Stores will open the three convenience stores, Office Products and Computer Repair. Should the severe weather occur at the beginning of each semester, every effort will be made to open the University Store and related stores (Computer Store, Medical Center Store, Textbook Store, and the Gothic Bookshop) and to provide other related services to the university community.

For information on Dining Operations and University Stores, please visit on the following sites:

• Dining Services Web Site
• Duke Stores Web Site

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Meal Passes - Essential Service Category Only

Duke University and Health System will provide beverage and meal passes to staff members assigned to the Essential Service category who work multiple shifts or must stay on the premises overnight. Transportation volunteers will receive beverage and meal passes as designated by the entity's transportation plan.

Safety Tips

• Report police, fire and medical emergencies to 911.
• Report service interruptions to telephone and/or power companies.
• Replenish emergency preparedness supplies when it's all over.
• Do not handle electrical equipment in wet areas.
• Use flashlights, rather than candles or kerosene lanterns for emergency light.

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Sleeping Arrangements - Essential Service Category Only

Duke University and Health System will provide sleeping arrangements for staff members assigned to the Essential Service category who work multiple shifts.