Severe weather updates – April 20

April 20, 2016

 

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Weather alert no. 9: Inclement weather expected this morning

Texas Children’s leadership and the Department of Emergency Management are closely monitoring the weather as the Greater Houston area is expecting a potential threat of heavy rainfall this morning between 9 a.m. and noon with further rainfall possible through mid-afternoon.

Rain is forecasted to begin around 9 a.m. in northwestern Harris County and reach the Medical Center by 11 a.m.

Since this line of storms is expected to remain rather progressive, the threat for heavy rainfall is expected to be much more localized than what was observed early Monday. Widespread rainfall amounts of around ½ inch to 1 inch can be expected with some localized amounts of 2-3 inches possible.

Given the significant soil saturation, even moderate rainfall may cause additional street flooding.

We urge employees to exercise caution when navigating roadways and avoid flooded areas as you head home or make your way into work. Please plan for additional travel time, and be prepared to identify alternate routes in case roadways are flooded. Also, be sure to communicate with your leaders should your arrival to work be delayed due to weather conditions.

For more information, including the latest weather, traffic and road conditions, go to the Emergency Management Connect site and the National Weather Service website.

Severe weather update no. 8: Official CARLA DEACTIVATION at 7 p.m.

Texas Children’s Hospital is formally discontinuing the CARLA activation at this time. Inpatient leadership will continue to ensure 1:1 staffing handoffs during shift changes. Nursing operations sub-command center will remain open through 7 p.m. this evening. Emergency pay practices will continue until 11 p.m. this evening.

The PFW 4th floor sleeping area will be staffed for those who would like to register until 8 p.m. Security will monitor the area for those sleeping throughout the night, and the area will close at 7 a.m.

We anticipate the weather will continue to improve later this evening. However, the Department of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the situation closely tonight and throughout the week.

Dependent care support
Texas Children’s Hospital has partnered with Bright Horizons® to enhance our Back-Up Care Advantage Program® with Crisis Care Assist.™ Available immediately, this program extends care options for employees whose dependent care arrangements may be impacted by the flooding in the Houston area. Click here for more details.

For more information, including the latest weather, traffic and road conditions, go to the Emergency Management Connect site and the National Weather Service website.

If you need to contact the Administrator on call, please do so through the page operator. The incident command center will officially close at 7 p.m. this evening.

Please continue to be safe in this weather, and reach out to your leaders if you have additional questions. Thank you all for your flexibility and resilience during this unexpected emergency weather event.

Severe weather update no. 7: Normal operations to resume (Monday, 3:33 p.m.)

New information

Severe weather is moving out of the Houston area. However, 1 to 3 inches of rain are expected over the next 48 hours with heavier rainfall possible in isolated areas.

We anticipate the weather will continue to improve significantly by later this evening, and we will continue to monitor closely and keep you well informed when we officially discontinue the CARLA.

Texas Medical Center shuttle services are back up and running, and Garages 11, 12 and 16 in the TMC are expected to reopen at 4 p.m. today. However, Metro will not resume normal service until 4 a.m. Tuesday.

Sleeping arrangements:

Sleeping arrangements are provided on the 4th floor of the Pavilion for Women. Should you require accommodations, please call Ext. 4-0150.

Food options:
The Coffee Corner in the Pavilion for Women will offer normal hours and serve food until 12 a.m. The CCC food court will offer extended hours of operation until 8 p.m. tonight.

Thanks to all of you for your great leadership. We appreciate your efforts to be here to care for our patients and their families. Pulling together at these times is critical to those entrusted in our care.

Previous information

Pay practices, parking reimbursement and financial assistance

Shuttle Service

  • Normal shuttle service is running from Garage 19 and Meyer. Service from Nabisco/NRI is also running.

For more information, including the latest weather, traffic and road conditions, go to the Emergency Management Connect site and the National Weather Service website.

Please continue to be safe in this weather, and reach out to your leaders if you have additional questions. Thank you all for your support.

Severe weather update no. 6: Pay practices, parking reimbursements and financial assistance (Monday, 12:05 p.m.)

We appreciate your efforts to be here to care for our patients and their families. It’s important to us, as your leaders, to provide you with programs and services to help you during difficult times as well. Below, we’ve outlined how we will handle pay practices and time off. In addition, we’ve provided information about acquiring financial assistance.

Emergency pay

  • An organization-wide CARLA was activated at 10 a.m. today. Emergency pay practices will be applied retroactively to 7 a.m.
  • All non-exempt employees working as of 7 a.m. will receive an Emergency differential of $5 per hour for hours worked during the CARLA. This differential will be in addition to their regular pay, including any applicable differentials and overtime.
  • Exempt employees who are working during the CARLA will be paid their regular salary.

Employees sleeping on campus

  • Non-exempt employees who are required to stay at the hospital or in designated sleeping areas during their time-off shift will be paid at their regular hourly rate for this time with overtime being calculated in accordance with FLSA guidelines (over 40 hours). No differentials will be paid during this period.
  • A maximum of 8 hours within a 24-hour period will be classified as sleep time and/or time required to be on campus but not working. Any hours in excess of 8 hours in a 24-hour period will be classified as time worked with all standard differentials applying.
  • Exempt employees will not receive additional pay for sleeping on campus.

PTO and PTU

  • Employees calling in due to road conditions will be coded as PTO.  If the employee does not have PTO, then it is unpaid time.
  • Employees calling in due to childcare limitations resulting from school closures also will be coded as PTO.  If the employee does not have PTO, then it is unpaid time.
  • Employees who called in due to illness will be coded as PTU.

Department and Clinic Closures or Employees Sent Home

  • Employees who are part of a department or clinic closure will be coded as PTO.
  • Regarding employees asked to go home after arriving for their normal shift:
    • Non-exempt employees should use their PTO accruals.  If the employee does not have PTO, then it is unpaid time. Non-exempt employees will not be charged PTO in periods of less than one (1) hour.
    • Exempt employees will be paid regular salary for their entire shift.

Parking reimbursement

  • Employees who had to park in a location for which their parking card does not provide access will be reimbursed. This includes Metro bus riders who pulled tokens.
  • Night shift employees who would normally leave the garage by 7 a.m., but had to pay because they were asked to remain on shift longer will be reimbursed.
  • You must have a parking receipt to receive reimbursement. Payments will be reimbursed through eBer. Requests must be submitted and approved by May 7.

Employee Financial Assistance Fund

  • We recognize that some of our employees and their families have suffered losses due to the weather event. Please remember that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may be able to help.
  • To learn more about EAP services, please visit the EAP websiteor contact the EAP at 832-824-3327 or eap@texaschildrens.org.

Severe weather update no. 5: Shuttles back in service (Monday, 11:25 a.m.)

  • Shuttle services are back in operation. Normal shuttle service has resumed from Garage 19 and Meyer. Service from Nabisco/NRI is also running.
  • We will continue to monitor the weather and bayous/bridges and report any changes.

Severe weather update no. 4: CARLA activated (Monday, 10:27 a.m.)

Texas Children’s Leadership is announcing a CARLA activation.

As such, all employees must be ready and available to arrive onsite when it is safe to do so. Your specific requirements should be discussed with your immediate supervisor.

Further information regarding Emergency Pay Practices will be forthcoming, along with other Human Resource information at approximately 12 p.m. today.

Food options are available on site in the Medical Center and West Campus at this time.

Severe weather alert no. 3: Shuttle services suspended at Meyer (Monday, 8:21 a.m.)

Shuttle services at the Meyer Building are now suspended until further notice. Security SUV’s are being sent to the Meyer shuttle stop to pick up employees heading to the Texas Medical Center.

Parking is open at the Pavilion garage only.

We will keep you posted on other further developments throughout the day.

For more information, including the latest weather, traffic and road conditions, go to the Emergency Management Connect site and the National Weather Service website.

Inclement weather causes cancellations of outpatient services (Monday, 7:23 a.m.)

All Texas Children’s Pediatric clinics, subspecialty clinics and diagnostic/therapeutic services at Main, West and the Health Centers along with the Texas Children’s Health Plan Centers and TCP Practices are closed.

  • Public transportation – Metro operations have been suspended until further notice.
  • Parking garages – All parking garages in the Texas Medical Center are closed, BUT the parking garages at Meyer are open. Shuttle services are running but may be delayed.

Inpatient staff are conducting 1 to 1 hand offs to ensure safe staffing levels.

All administrative support staff should consult with their leaders regarding their need to report to work.

We urge employees to exercise caution when navigating roadways and avoid flooded areas as you head home or make your way into work. Please plan for additional travel time, and be prepared to identify alternate routes in case roadways are flooded. Also, be sure to communicate with your leaders should your arrival to work be delayed due to the inclement weather conditions.

For more information, including the latest weather, traffic and road conditions, go to the Emergency Management Connect site and the National Weather Service website.

Inclement weather expected through Tuesday (Sunday, 10:10 p.m.)

Texas Children’s leadership and the Department of Emergency Management are closely monitoring the weather, as the Greater Houston area is expecting heavy rainfall and severe storms.
We anticipate rainfall will intensify throughout the Houston area between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday. Widespread rainfall of 4-6 inches is expected, with isolated areas receiving up to 10 inches of rain. Rain is expected to continue through Tuesday morning.

We urge employees to exercise caution when navigating roadways and avoid flooded areas as you head home or make your way into work. Please plan for additional travel time, and be prepared to identify alternate routes in case roadways are flooded. Also, be sure to communicate with your leaders should your arrival to work be delayed due to the inclement weather conditions.

For more information, including the latest weather, traffic and road conditions, go to the Emergency Management Connect site and the National Weather Service website.

Summary information

Weather

  • Texas Children’s leadership and the Department of Emergency Management are closely monitoring the weather, as the Greater Houston area is experiencing heavy rainfall and severe storms. Additional, widespread rainfall of 4-6 inches is expected throughout the day, with isolated areas receiving up to 10 inches of rain. Cumulative rain totals are exceeding 12” in many areas, causing widespread flooding.

CARLA activation

  • Texas Children’s leadership announced a CARLA activation at 10 a.m. today. As such, all employees must be ready and available to arrive onsite when it is safe to do so. Your specific requirements should be discussed with your immediate supervisor.
  • Further information regarding Emergency Pay Practices will be forthcoming, along with other Human Resource information at approximately 12 p.m. today.

Outpatient closures and Inpatient staffing

  • All Texas Children’s Pediatric clinics, subspecialty clinics and diagnostic/therapeutic services at Main, West and the Health Centers along with the Texas Children’s Health Plan Centers and TCP Practices are closed.
    Inpatient staff are conducting 1-to-1 hand-offs to ensure safe staffing levels.

Food options

  • Food options are available on-site in the Medical Center and West Campus at this time.

Parking

  • Public transportation – Metro operations have been suspended until further notice.
  • Parking garages – All parking garages in the Texas Medical Center are closed, BUT the parking garages at Meyer are open. Shuttle services are running but may be delayed.