Wednesday, February 10, 2010
2100 Hours:
Thank you for your continued efforts in weathering the blizzard. The Command Center will remain open to coordinate volunteer drivers and sleeping accommodations for staff, however due to a limited number of volunteer drivers available tomorrow we are unable to guarantee transportation to or from Sibley for our employees.
We continue to use the Metro as our guide in determining if we can provide transportation. On Thursday, February 11, the metro will continue to run their underground service only. When Metro begins running above-ground trains and buses, we will no longer use volunteer drivers to pick up or drive home employees.
If you live near or can safely travel to an underground metro station, we recommend that you utilize our continuous loop shuttle service. Volunteer drivers will provide transportation to and from the Tenleytown Metro Station between the hours of 0600-1900.
We thank you for your cooperation and for continuing to provide excellent care for our patients.
Emergency Management Team
0950 Hours:
Due to treacherous road conditions, we will no longer send drivers to take employees home or pick up from their homes effective immediately. We are enacting Shelter-in-Place for the safety of our employees and drivers. Departments may need to redistribute shifts in order to cover the next shifts for employees not reporting to work.
Thank you again for all of your hard work and commitment to our patients. We will continue to monitor the road conditions and reassess the situation if weather conditions change.
Emergency Management Team
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
1845 Hours:
Snow Storm to Limit Metro Transit Service Significantly
Metrorail service is expected to be limited to underground stations only on Wednesday, February 10, and there will be no Metrobus or MetroAccess service due to the heavy snowfall expected tonight (Feb. 9) and tomorrow (Feb. 10).
The Metrorail system will open on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 5 a.m. with service limited to underground stations only. All 40 above-ground stations will be closed.
On Wednesday, trains will be servicing underground stations at intervals of 24 to 30 minutes from opening until midnight as follows:
- The Red Line will be split into two segments. It will operate between Union Station and Medical Center Metrorail stations and between Glenmont and Forest Glen Metrorail stations.
- The Blue and Orange Lines will both operate between Ballston and Stadium-Armory Metrorail stations.
- The Green Line will run between Fort Totten and Congress Heights Metrorail stations.
- The Yellow Line will run only between the Pentagon and Crystal City Metrorail stations.
Below is the link to the map of Metro stations:
http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm
1800 Hours:
Sibley staff,
Please move your cars from surface lots and into garages 5, 6 and 7 to allow for snow removal. The gates have been lifted.
Thank you.
1700 Hours:
We are trying to accommodate many Sibley employees to sleep over tonight. Due to the higher census, we need to utilize many of the mattresses and conference rooms instead of patient rooms/beds. Please look in your areas for available mattresses that may have been used over the weekend and were not returned. It is critical that we have the airbeds returned to EVS. Please call ext. 4775 and we will send someone to pick them up.
Thank you,
Sibley Emergency Operations Center
1645 Hours:
For employees working today and would like to stay overnight in preparation for their shift Wednesday, we will do our best to provide accomodations for you tonight. If you have any air mattresses or sleeping bags, please bring those with you and we will find a place for you to sleep.
Regarding transportation on Wednesday:
We have a volunteer in a 4-wheel drive vehicle driving to and from the Tenleytown metro station starting at 6AM. Please take the NE exit and wait for the driver at the Whole Foods. This is different from how the Sibley Shuttle Service operated. The driver will be running a continuous loop to and from Sibley. A sign will be in the driver's dashboard identifying the vehicle as the shuttle. Should you have trouble locating the driver, please call the command center at (202) 537-4497.
We are following the Metro's service to determine if additional volunteer drivers are needed. When the metro ceases to operate above-ground services, we will begin requesting volunteer drivers.
1300 Hours:
Weather Forecast from NOAA: Tonight: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 26. East wind around 8 mph becoming north. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible. Wednesday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 31. Blustery, with a northwest wind 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 21 and 24 mph. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.
1. We are beginning preparations for the next snow. Please review this message carefully and share it with those who do not have access to the web.
2. Employees are to report to duty as scheduled. If you have a problem with reporting to work, contact your supervisor directly.
3. After 1500 hours, please move your car from the surface lots to either garage 4, 6 or 7 to allow for snow removal.
4. Plan to bring clothes, medication and a sleeping bag or aero mattress if you have one.
The Command Center will open at 1500 hours for sleeping assignments ONLY. Transportation will not be provided until Metro is no longer running above ground.
The Command Center phone number is 202.537.4497 or in-house extension 4497.
Thank you for taking great care of our patients. We realize these are difficult conditions and appreciate all that you do.
Emergency Management Team.
Monday, February 8, 2010
1115 Hours:
The command center will demobilize at 11:30. All employees who have requested transportation home have been accommodated. If you need transport home this afternoon/evening, and are not able to use the Ride On bus (23) and/or metro, please visit the Security Office for alternate transportation.
Security will assign beds on an as needed basis for essential personnel.
Thank you for your continual commitment and support of our patients.
1015 Hours:
The below email is from Melanie Yumor, Director Nutrition Services.
I just want people to know we are short staffed and will do as much as possible but we have to get the food to the patients so some stations in the Cafeteria will be closed. For example today we do not have limited resources to open the deli area in the Cafeteria because we moved them to the patient service area.
After three days of outstanding commitment form the Food and Nutrition staff we are now operating with a skeletal staff which means we can only offer limited service. The top priority will always be our patients and Sibley employees. The cafeteria will operate under a normal schedule but menu offerings will be limited.
Thank you all for your continued commitment to our patients.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
2100 Hours:
Thank you to all staff for your commitment to our patients during this snow emergency.
Effective 2200 this evening, the Command Center will close for the night. We will provide sleep accommodations for staff this evening as needed. Effective tomorrow morning, we will no longer provide transportation for staff to Sibley.
If you plan to sleep at Sibley tonight, you must contact the Command Center for a sleep assignment by 2200. After 2200, please call Safety and Security to secure a room assignment.
If you received a ride to work by a volunteer, we will provide you a ride home. The Command Center will reopen at 0630 on Monday morning, February 8, 2010, to coordinate rides home for staff who were brought in by volunteers.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Emergency Management Team
1300 Hours:
Please be aware that we can no longer provide scrubs to staff for personal use. We need to conserve all current scrubs for staff who work in the Operating Room for Monday morning surgery.
Thank you for taking such good care of our patients and your continued support in this snow emergency.
Emergency Management Team
0845 Hours
Before you are leave your job duty, please check with your supervisor for authorization. Also, please return air mattresses to EVS on the Concourse level when you are finished. Be mindful on the use of scrubs because we have a busy OR schedule in the morning.
Thank you for your cooperation during this difficult situation.
0745 Hours:
If you are driving home today or later this evening, please contact the Command Center at x4497 prior to leaving to see if you can drive home a fellow employee who lives near you.
Thank you so much for your help.
0640 Hours:
Please continue to call the Command Center at 202-537-4497 or in house at x4497 to make arrangements for or a ride home. We ask your patience because we our relying on volunteer drivers.
Call the Command Center for sleep assignments. All sleep assignments are made through the Command Center. Please do not make any changes without with out contacting the Command Center. Also, if you decide to sleep in your work area (such as a work room), please let the Command Center know that as well. In all emergency situations, it is important that we know where employees are located.
Thank you for continuing to care for our patients and your fellow employees.
Saturday, February, 6, 2010
1955 Hours:
Thank you for your continued support during this difficult situation. We know that many of you are spending the night again tonight and appreciate your willingness to pitch in.
Tomorrow morning we will begin to drive people home when they are released. We will be relying on volunteer drivers, so we ask you to call the Command Center at x4497 to make arrangements. We ask that you be patient as we work to schedule volunteer drivers. Please remember we are relying on volunteers and they are out during very difficult driving conditions.
Thank you again for all your hard work.
1030 Hours:
Thank you for continuing to care for our patients during the snow storm. We realize that it has been a very difficult situation.
We will continue to sleep staff. We will need to share rooms and appreciate your understanding. Please continue to be mindful of linen use.
For all sleeping arrangements and rides, call the Command Center at 202-537-4497.
Friday, February 5, 2010
1830 Hours:
Thank you for your continued support during this difficult situation. We know that many of you are spending the night again tonight and appreciate your willingness to pitch in.
Tomorrow morning we will begin to drive people home when they are released. We will be relying on volunteer drivers, so we ask you to call the Command Center at x4497 to make arrangements. We ask that you be patient as we work to schedule volunteer drivers. Please remember we are relying on volunteers and they are out during very difficult driving conditions.
Thank you again for all your hard work. For all sleeping arrangements and rides, call the Command Center at 202-537-4497.
If you are parked in lots 2, 4 or the visitors' lot, please take time now to move your car to either one of the covered garages - 5, 6 or 7.
1500 Hours:
The snow emergency response plan has been activated. The command center, located in Hayes Hall Conference Room #1, is open. Contact number for command center: ext. 4497. Please contact the command center for sleeping arrangements
at the end of your shift. Thank you for being here and for taking care of our patients.
1030 Hours:
Below you will find useful information to help you in your work here at Sibley for the upcoming snow storm:
1. To find out what is happening here, log on to www.sibley.org from anywhere, click on "employees" in the upper right corner to find updated messages. You may also type: www.sibley.org/employees in your browser.
2. If you are scheduled to work this weekend, plan to come in now and sleeping accommodations will be provided. Failure to report to work is considered an unplanned absence. Plan to stay for 72 hours, so bring personal items and medication that you will need for this time period.
3. The Command Center, located in Hayes Hall Conference Room # 1, will open at 1500 hours today, February 5. Call the Command Center at 202-537-4497 if you need a place to sleep.
4. If you do stay overnight, please be mindful of your linen use. Use what is necessary, but do not be wasteful.