Durham, NC - Duke officials are closely monitoring the forecast and projected path of Hurricane Hanna. Current forecasts indicate that the storm may make landfall in South Carolina near the North Carolina border early Saturday before moving through the Triangle area.

Given the possibility of severe weather, employees should review Duke's severe weather policy and procedures. Managers should share information with their staff regarding what they should do if the policy is activated.

During times of severe weather, some staff positions require on-site presence to continue operations. All jobs should be assigned a service category by the manager to ensure continuous operations of patient care, student support and research functions. The three categories are:

• Essential Service: During severe weather/emergency conditions, essential service staff report or remain at work. Transportation service and childcare services are provided for those required to work during severe weather/emergency conditions.

• Reserve Service: During severe weather/emergency conditions, reserve service staff are assigned a status at the time of severe weather/emergency condition.

• Delayed Service: During severe weather/emergency conditions, delayed service staff do not report to work or remain at work.

Managers should ensure staff members are aware of the service category for their position and how they will be notified if the severe weather policy is activated. The announcement will be made through the various DukeALERT channels, including email, text message, and Duke's emergency website. A message also will be recorded on the severe weather/emergency conditions telephone line at 684-INFO (4636).

More information about the policy, including checklists and answers to frequently asked questions, is available at the Severe Weather Policy webpage.