Duke to Activate Severe Weather & Emergency Conditions Policy Weekend

TO:  Vice Presidents, Vice Provosts, Deans, Directors, Department Heads, and Managers
FROM:  Kyle Cavanaugh, Vice President for Administration, Emergency Coordinator
RE:  Duke to Activate Severe Weather & Emergency Conditions Policy Weekend

The severe weather policy for Duke University and Duke University Health System will be in effect from 7 a.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10.

Please notify your staff and implement departmental severe weather plans as appropriate. All staff in “Essential Service" positions should report to work or remain at work when the policy is in effect.

Duke Primary Care and Urgent Care leadership will make a decision about Urgent Care Clinic status early Sunday morning with the goal of maintaining access for patients at as many sites as possible. Urgent Care team members should expect communication from their clinic managers after the weather and road conditions have been evaluated tomorrow morning.

A decision will be made Sunday afternoon to determine if the severe weather and emergency conditions policy will be extended beyond 7 a.m. Monday.

Durham and Wake counties are under a winter storm warning, and the latest forecasts indicate significant snow, sleet and freezing rain throughout the day Sunday.

Crews on campus have pretreated roads and sidewalks during the day. Duke community members should review the priority clearing map to determine the preferred paths of travel during severe weather, which may differ from their normal routines. Members of the Duke community should use extreme caution when traveling to and around campus in case there are icy spots. Facilities Management will cordon off steps that should not be used due to ice and snow.

Wind gusts combined with snow and ice accumulations will increase the likelihood of downed trees and power outages in the region. Most power lines on Duke’s main campus are underground, so power supply should be uninterrupted. Duke’s Facilities Management Department will coordinate with Duke Energy on any power outages at Duke-owned or leased buildings off campus. Outages can be reported to Facilities Management at 919-684-2122.

For more information about the severe weather and emergency conditions policy or the current status of roads, parking lots, busing routes, dining facilities and Duke stores, visit the DukeALERT emergency website at http://emergency.duke.edu