Monday, June 15, 3:29 p.m.
Texas Children’s executive leadership and the Emergency Management team are closely monitoring Tropical Disturbance no. 7, which is expected to reach our area within 24 hours.
New information
- Weather update. Rainfall has begun in isolated areas, and heavy rainfall and tropical storm force winds are expected throughout the area Tuesday morning and afternoon. Isolated tornados are possible, but it is expected that they will be brief and relatively weak.
- Public transportation. If you are planning to travel to work by Metro bus or rail, ensure you have an alternate means of transportation, as service may be limited beginning later today.
- Flood doors and Garage Entrances. At this point, there has been no decision to close the flood doors or the garage entrances. They will remain open unless closure is absolutely necessary.
- Back-up child care and elder care benefit. Backup care for children and elders is available to Texas Children’s employees through Bright Horizons. Click here for details.
- At-work disaster bag. Your at-work disaster bag should be ready to go with at least three days of essential supplies. It should include: your employee badge, bottled water and non-perishable food, light-weight clothing (including socks and under garments), linens (sleeping bags, sheets, pillows), medications/glasses/contact lenses, cash, phone charger, personal care items and toiletries.
- Using appropriate judgement. It’s important that we all remain mindful of our obligation to be here to provide uninterrupted care for our patients and their families. By the same token, we want you to be safe. We rely on your judgement in these situations to balance the need for your presence here with our desire to ensure you are not putting yourself in harm’s way.
- External access to communications. All emergency communications are accessible from any home or work computer, tablet or mobile phone at texaschildrens.org.
Previous information
We are taking all appropriate precautions according to our response plan, and we ask staff and employees to do the same. We urge you to:
- Prepare for staffing changes, and be flexible with scheduling adjustments. Leaders are assessing staffing for the next 24 to 48 hours and making plans to adjust the schedule should we experience a severe weather event.
- Some inpatient staff may need to arrive earlier or remain on shift longer. Please direct all inpatient calls to the NAC at extension 6-4282.
- Also, outpatient areas may delay patient arrivals or have cancellations. Please be patient with and accommodating of these adjustments.
- Ensure your personal emergency preparedness plans are in place, as hurricane season is here.
- Review your personal and family preparedness plans. Pack your at-work disaster bag, confirm back-up child care and elder care plans, check emergency supplies, and ensure emergency contact numbers are correct.
- Stay connected, and pay attention to communications.
- Global emails: Texas Children’s Global Alert emails will be distributed each morning and afternoon – and more frequently if warranted – to provide updates, so please check your email.
- Connect message: A scrolling message on the Connect home page also includes the latest updates.
- Latest weather, traffic and road conditions are available on the Emergency ManagementConnect site and the National Weather Service
Please use caution when navigating roadways, and do not drive into flooded areas. Again, thank you for your commitment to caring for our patients and their families.
Judy Swanson, Administrator on call
Amy Puglia, Emergency Management