1. Winter Weather Emergencies
ACPL Safety Training
Winter Weather Emergencies

2. Winter is almost officially here
Winter is almost officially here. Each year ACPL staff should begin planning for snow emergencies.
Preparation for winter weather emergencies involves communications, planning at home, planning at work, planning travel, and understanding what watches, advisories and warnings are.

3. Learning Objectives
By the end of this training session, you will be able to:
Explain how severe storm warnings are first received at ACPL.
Tell how much snow must be on the ground before library lots are plowed.
Explain the difference between a Winter Weather Advisory, Watch, and Warning.
Tell who is responsible for deciding to close the library in the event of a winter weather emergency.
Explain how you will know if the library will be closing due to a winter weather emergency.
Explain your responsibilities in the event of a variety of winter weather scenarios.

4. Click on the screen to download and print a copy of this sheet.
Emergency Action Plan
Like all other emergency procedures, winter weather emergency procedures are outlined in the Emergency Action Plan, specifically in Category 7B.
Please take a minute to read the page here.
Click on the screen to download and print a copy of this sheet.
Click on the screen to download and print a copy of this sheet.

5. Snow is predicted
The Emergency Response Center, also known as the Security Center, monitors weather conditions during library hours.

6. Click on the screen to download and print a copy of this sheet.
Advisory
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security, working with the Fort Wayne and Allen County Office of Homeland Security, issues travel advisories in the event of extreme winter weather.
Click on the screen to download and print a copy of this sheet.
Click on the screen to download and print a copy of this sheet.

7. Winter Weather Travel Advisories
Advisory
Watch
Warning
There are three advisory levels:
Advisory, which is the lowest level
Watch, the next level,
And Warning, the highest level of advisory
Let’s look at what these advisory levels mean.

8. Advisory
An ADVISORY is the lowest level of local travel advisory. Road travel may be restricted because of accidents, ice, or other hazards. We are instructed to use caution when driving during a travel advisory.

9. Watch
A travel WATCH is the next highest level. It means conditions are threatening to public safety, and only essential travel should take place. Traveling to and from work, school, and other necessary trips are considered essential travel.

10. Warning
A travel WARNING is the highest level of a local travel advisory. Travel may be restricted to emergency travel only. Individuals are instructed to refrain from all travel and comply with local public officials. This is the type of situation where many public agencies like schools, government offices, and libraries close. However, this does not automatically imply that the library will be closed.
In the following slides, we’ll look at what happens at the library when this type of warning is issued.

11. Will the library close?
Previously, we talked about the Emergency Response Center’s responsibility to monitor weather conditions during library hours.
When inclement weather is predicted, this information is relayed to the senior managers. The director and the senior managers make decisions about whether the library will close early, and whether announcements need to be made to staff and public.

12. How will I know if the library is closed?
Director
Senior Manager
text
At ACPL, we have an excellent system for communicating emergencies such as winter weather events. Managers and assistant managers use the phone tree, which is similar to our organizational chart, to pass the word from the top down until every ACPL employee is contacted about closing.

13. How will I know if the library is closed?
If the library must close due to a winter weather emergency, you will receive a phone call from your manager. So during a snow emergency, it is important to keep your phone handy. Also, make sure that your manager has an up-to-date phone number for you.

14. What should I do to prepare?
You can prepare for winter weather emergencies by:
Stocking your car with first aid kit and blanket, a good scraper, and a snow shovel.
Make sure your vehicle is winterized and is sufficiently fueled.

15. Sidewalks and parking lots
A common question is, “When will our lot be plowed?”
Sidewalks and parking lots are plowed when snow has accumulated to two inches.

16. Questions?
Information for all safety training has been provided by John Hidy, Security Services Manager, Allen County Public Library.
For more information or if you have questions, contact John Hidy, x1281or

17. To finish your safety training, please complete the quiz.