Be Prepared for Winter Weather
The first day of winter is Dec. 21 and crews are ready in the event of severe forecasts
Every fall, Duke Facilities Management holds a “snow rodeo,” when Landscape Services employees practice hooking salt spreaders and plows to their trucks and driving around an obstacle course.
The rodeo gives staff an opportunity to get acclimated to equipment months before the possibility of a wintry forecast when snow and ice accumulation can present a challenge for clearing roads and sidewalks.
Travis Lewis stands in front of salt spreaders and plow machinery that he helps maintain throughout the year.
Duke senior mechanic Travis Lewis, who has worked at Duke since 1988 and experienced his share of weather events, said his team works in 10- to 14-hour shifts to help clear snow and ice during inclement weather.
“I love it all,” Lewis said. “You’d be surprised how many students are out playing in the snow.”
Dec. 21 is the first day of winter, and this week's forecast calls for sunny days and temperatures reaching the 50s. Still, Lewis and others across the University and Health System are ready for any inclement forecast to help keep the community safe. Crews have already ordered salt and sand to spread on sidewalks and serviced and gassed up equipment. Even though warmer, drier-than-normal conditions are expected this winter season for the southern U.S., Duke employees should also prepare in advance for snow and ice forecasts.
“Weather can be unpredictable, but one of the best ways to prepare and remain safe during a winter storm is to stay informed,” said Kyle Cavanaugh, Duke’s vice president for administration.
In the event of severe winter weather, the Duke community should monitor emergency.duke.edu and the Working@Duke Twitter account for real-time updates about transit delays, dining openings, and other important information. Employees can also call (919) 684-INFO.
Staff and faculty are encouraged to review service designations by talking with their supervisors. Employees are assigned to one of three categories during severe weather: essential, reserve or delayed. Essential service employees are required to report to or remain at work; reserve service will be assigned at the time of severe weather; and delayed service employees will not report to or remain at work in severe weather.
See how Duke responded to last season’s winter storms:
