January 2025 Winter Storm

January 18, 2025

FINAL UPDATE — Wednesday, January 22 at 12pm

Ride out will end at noon today, but please be prepared for 1:1 handoffs through Thursday. All campuses and entities will be operational on Thursday. This is the final update for this weather event.

Operational updates

  • Medical Center Relief Team, please park in Garage 22 PFWII.
  • Medical Center shuttle buses resume tomorrow at 5am.
  • Medical Center team members, please return to normal parking options for the Medical Center (Garages 19, 14, Meyer North/South).

 

Ride Out Activated Across All Campuses — Tuesday, January 21 at 12pm

A heartfelt THANK YOU for your hard work and commitment for activating our ride out plan across all Texas Children’s campuses.

Our patients and their families are full of gratitude for those staying on campus taking care of them through this winter storm. Thank you to those who quickly shifted appointments to telemedicine to treat patients. And, thank you to our Health Plan team for taking care of their members during the storm. 

New:

  • Garage 12 in the Medical Center is closed due to ice. Current parkers in Garage 12 will be guided out should they need to leave.
  • Medical Center shuttle services are suspended today and tomorrow. 

Operation Status:

  • Ride out teams are in place across all campuses.
  • On schedule to end ride out on Wednesday at 12pm.
  • Be prepared for 1:1 handoffs through Thursday.
  • We will continue to monitor, but we expect all campuses and all entities to be operational on Thursday.

Call for Photos:

Again, thank you for your commitment to our patients, our members and each other during this weather event.

Please click here to access the Medical Center garage map for assistance. We encourage relief staff to park in Garage 22 to help alleviate congestion in Garages 16 and 21.

 

NEW UPDATES: Winter Storm Ride Out — Monday, January 20 at 12pm

Texas Children’s is activating ride out status today at 7pm through Wednesday at 12pm.

Please see new updates below. 

Emergency Pay Practices:

  • Emergency pay applies to all campus employees working on site during ride out (Houston and Austin).
  • Emergency pay will be in effect Monday, January 20 at 7pm until Wednesday, January 22 at 12pm.
  • REMINDER: For more information on Emergency Pay, click here to access the FAQs. 

Medical Center:

  • NEW: To reserve your room to sleep or to schedule a shower, please click here to access the hoteling application. This app is for the Medical Center location only.
  • If you’re having trouble using or accessing this new tool, please go to the MWT 3rd floor welcome desk for assistance. Please review the video tutorial for help on how to use the app.
  • If you have a sleeping location and want to check out a cot, please go to the MWT 3rd floor welcome desk starting Monday at 4pm.
  • All food outlets will be open, but please bring your own snacks. 

Parking and Transportation:

  • NEW: Medical Center garage gates for garages 22, 16 and 21 will be open Monday when ride out employees begin the check-in process.
  • Medical Center shuttles will run as usual. We will update you if there are changes to the schedule.   

Operations Status:

  • NEW: The administrative/research office buildings are open for ride out team members. Unless you are on the ride out team, do not come to those offices on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please continue to consult your respective leadership for updates and details on business operations.

Emergency Text Messages:

Sign up for text messages from TCH to know about any changes to operations.

  • Logon to Voyager
  • Go to Contact Info
  • Add the Home Mobile Phone field 

Employee Phone Line:

To receive updates, please call the employee phone line at 1-866-921-8241

(1-866-921-TCH1).

Social Media:

To share our winter weather updates, click the links for our Facebook and Instagram channels.

For a complete listing of facility and ride out updates, please visit texaschildrensnews.org.

 

NEW UPDATES: Winter Storm Ride Out — Sunday, January 19 at 12pm

Texas Children’s is activating ride out status this Monday at 7pm through Wednesday at 12pm.

Please see new updates below.

Ride Out Preparation and Sleeping Arrangements:

  • NEW: For all campuses, check in for sleep arrangements will begin Monday at 4pm.
  • If you are on the ride out team, sleeping arrangements will be available.
  • Ride out teams for medical staff are being developed by division chiefs. Please discuss with your operational leadership. 
  • Begin to prepare what you may need onsite.
  • Click here for the disaster bag checklist.

Medical Center:

  • NEW: The hoteling application will be distributed tomorrow morning before noon to allow rooms to be booked. In preparation for using the application, please review the video tutorial. Please only use this application if you need a room to sleep in or you need to schedule a shower. This app is for the Medical Center location only.
  • NEW: If you have a sleeping location and want to check out a cot, please go to the MWT 3rd floor welcome desk starting Monday at 4pm.
  • All food outlets will be open, but be prepared to bring your own snacks. 

West Campus:

  • NEW: Check in at the first floor conference center Monday at 4pm.
  • Sleeping arrangements, shower schedules and respite area availability/locations will be provided. 
  • NEW: There will be a dinner option Monday and Tuesday night with a limited menu.

Woodlands Campus:

  • NEW: Check in at the first floor main lobby Monday at 4pm.
  • Sleeping arrangements, shower schedules and respite area availability/locations will be provided.

North Austin Campus:

  • Connect with your leader to receive your sleeping assignment.

Parking and Transportation:

  • NEW: Medical Center garage gates for garages 12, 16 and 21 will be open Monday when ride out employees begin the check-in process.
  • Medical Center shuttles will run as usual. We will update you if there are changes to the schedule.   

Emergency Pay Practices:

  • NEW: Emergency pay applies to all campus employees working on site during ride out (Houston and Austin).
  • Emergency pay will be in effect Monday, January 20 at 7pm until Wednesday, January 22nd at 12pm.
  • For more information on Emergency Pay, click here. 

Operations Status:

  • NEW: TCPs in Greater Houston and Bryan/College Station will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • TCPs in the Greater Austin area will be closed Tuesday and will reopen Wednesday afternoon.
  • TCPs will move some appointments to virtual care.
  • Houston Urgent Cares will be closed through Wednesday with virtual care appointments available.
  • Houston Specialty Care and outpatient clinics are closed Tuesday and Wednesday and will move some appointments to virtual care.
  • In person outpatient activities are canceled for Texas Children’s. Telemed appointments are available.
  • Houston Health Plan will operate business as usual. Health Plan employees, please consult local leadership for updates and details on business operations.
  • All administrative buildings will operate business as usual.
  • Outpatient community locations and non-clinical departments should continue to consult their respective leadership for updates and details on business operations.

Relief Team:

  • Be prepared to come in as early as Wednesday evening.
  • Your leader or designee will be in contact with you regarding specific plans. 

Remote/Hybrid Employees:

Staff who are able to work remotely and are not required to be on site to support operations should consult with their leaders about working remotely on Tuesday through Thursday next week.

  • All exempt and non-exempt employees working remotely must use the ATK Telecommute Code for accurate remote tracking.
  • Stay in communication with your leader about your status.

Emergency Text Messages:

Sign up for text messages from TCH to know about any changes to operations.

  • Logon to Voyager
  • Go to Contact Info
  • Add the Home Mobile Phone field

Employee Phone Line:

To receive updates, please call the employee phone line at 1-866-921-8241 (1-866-921-TCH1).

 

NEW UPDATE: Ride Out Status Activated Starting Monday at 7pm — Saturday, January 18 at 6:15pm

Ride out status will be activated across all campuses starting Monday at 7pm through Wednesday at 12pm due to next week’s winter storm.

Operations Status:

  • In person outpatient activities are canceled for Texas Children’s. Telemed appointments are available.
  • TCPs in the Greater Houston area will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • TCPs in the Greater Austin area and Bryan/College Station will be closed Tuesday and will reopen Wednesday afternoon.
  • TCPs will move some appointments to virtual care.
  • Houston Urgent Cares will be closed through Wednesday with virtual care appointments available.
  • Houston Specialty Care and outpatient clinics are closed Tuesday and Wednesday and will move some appointments to virtual care.
  • Houston Health Plan will operate business as usual. Health Plan employees, please consult local leadership for updates and details on business operations.
  • All administrative buildings will operate business as usual.
  • Outpatient community locations and non-clinical departments should continue to consult their respective leadership for updates and details on business operations.

Ride Out Preparation and Sleeping Arrangements:

  • If you are on the ride out team, sleeping arrangements will be available.
  • Ride out teams for medical staff are being developed by division chiefs. Please discuss with your operational leadership. There will be specific information related to medical staff coming soon.
  • Please begin to prepare what you may need onsite.
  • Click here for disaster bag checklist.

Medical Center:

  • For those who need a sleeping assignment, the hoteling app will be available starting Monday morning to sign up.
  • The link will be shared when ready.
  • If you have a sleeping location and want to check out a cot, please go to the MWT 3rd floor welcome desk starting Monday afternoon.
  • All food outlets will be open, but please be prepared to bring your own snacks. 

West Campus:

  • Please check in at the first floor conference center.
  • Sleeping arrangements, shower schedules and respite area availability/locations will be provided. 

Woodlands Campus:

  • Please check in at the first floor main lobby.
  • Sleeping arrangements, shower schedules and respite area availability/locations will be provided.

North Austin Campus:

  • Connect with your leader to receive your sleeping assignment.

Relief team:

Please be prepared to come in as early as Wednesday evening. Your leader or designee will be in contact regarding specific plans. 

Remote/Hybrid Employees:

Staff who are able to work remotely and are not required to be on site to support operations should consult with their leaders about working remotely on Tuesday through Thursday next week.

  • All exempt and non-exempt employees working remotely must use the ATK Telecommute Code for accurate remote tracking.
  • Stay in communication with your leader about your status.

Emergency Text Messages:

Sign up for text messages from TCH to know about any changes to operations.

  • Logon to Voyager
  • Go to Contact Info
  • Add the Home Mobile Phone field 

Employee phone line:

To receive updates, please call the employee phone line at 1-866-921-8241 (1-866-921-TCH1). 

Emergency Pay Practices:

  • Emergency Pay will be in effect as of 7 p.m. Monday, January 20 until noon Wednesday, January 22. for Houston-based employees working on-site at a Texas Children’s location. We will evaluate Wednesday if it needs to be extended.
  • For more information on Emergency Pay, click here.

Safety Checklist:

Safety is always our first priority, so prepare now for potential inclement weather.

  • Monitor the local news and weather for traffic and safety alerts.
  • Avoid unnecessary travel during inclement weather.
  • Use caution when navigating roadways and plan for additional travel time to make detours or adjust your route if necessary.
  • Visit the Winter Weather Preparedness page on the Organizational Resilience SharePoint site for quick links to check for power outages and traffic maps.   


Matt Girotto
Administrator On Call

Print PDF