Winter Storm Update

[Cheryl P]

Dear Team:

This is to provide an update on the planning and coordination in preparation to the forecasted Winter Storm that may affect our region starting tomorrow in the morning. The Winter Storm Watch has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning in effect for Lucas County from 7AM Wednesday, February 2^nd to 7AM Friday, February 4^th. North winds at 15 to 25 MPH will cause blowing and drifting of snow. Northeast winds will gust as high as 30-35 mph. Visibility will be significantly with major impacts to travel expected.

For your information, see attached Winter Storm Briefing from the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

Business Continuity:

Due to expected severe weather and road conditions, and taking into consideration your safety, I am authorizing all employees to remain at home tomorrow, [Wednesday, February 2] (from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM). Nevertheless, you must remain mindful of the importance that you represent the essential services that LMH provides to our residents. LMH cell phones must remain active and employees should be available to serve any critical (emergency/life-threatening) incident and if required to work by your immediate supervisor (see Phone Tree coordination below).

Business hours:

If an employee is dispatched, the immediate supervisor will perform wellness check phone calls during the service of a critical (emergency/life-threatening) incident. For record keeping purposes, any instance in which an employee is required to work must be documented by their immediate supervisor.

Afterhours: The afterhours on-call services will remain as previously planned and under the supervision of AMP 122 Maintenance Supervisor, Tom Drees.

If an employee is dispatched, the on-call supervisor will perform wellness check phone calls during the service of a critical (emergency/life-threatening) incident. For record keeping purposes, any instance in which an employee is required to work must be documented by the on-call supervisor.

The Lucas County Sheriff has the authority to declare a Level 3 snow emergency for Lucas County. When that occurs, travel on Lucas County roads is limited to only emergency and essential personnel. In case of a critical (emergency/life-threatening) incident, you may be contacted. Attached is an official letter to identify yourself as essential personnel. Make sure to have it handy on your LMH cell phone and to  present to law enforcement authorities, if necessary.

Travel is NOT strictly restricted during a Level 1 or Level 2 snow emergency.

LMH text service:

LMH text service is active. Staff may receive notifications via the agency-wide Text Messaging Alert System.

Phone Tree:

To ensure adequate communication around critical (emergency/life-threatening) incidents, we will use our Phone Tree (attached). Our main Point of Contact (POC) is John McGuire, Vice President of Public Safety. Your responsibility is to take the call, acknowledging the news and contact the next person in your chain of command to provide the same information. In the case of the AMPs, once the call has reached the Property Manager, a dispatch of Assistant Property Managers and/or a call to the Maintenance Supervisor to dispatch maintenance employees will be performed.

Tomorrow at noon, LMH Leadership will join me to have a Winter Storm Check-in meeting. Immediately afterwards, I will be providing an update to you based on the most recent information, the progress made and any critical item of consideration. Before close of business Wednesday, I will announce the plans for Thursday, February 3^rd.

If there is a change on conditions, I will be communicating with you accordingly.

We are all in this together!

Stay safe and warm.