Workers can call a toll-free hotline to find out about the status of Laboratory operations during inclement weather. That toll-free number is 1-877-723-4101. The toll-free number provides easy access to the Lab’s UPDATE phone line, which employees should call to find out if the Lab’s operating schedule is affected by winter storms. The hotline is the Lab’s official, primary source for obtaining such information.
The local phone number for Los Alamos and Santa Fe residents is 667-6622. The message will not change unless there has been a change in schedule at the Lab or new information concerning an emergency.
The Laboratory’s Early Dismissal/Closure/Delayed Opening Plan for determining the Lab’s operating schedule because of inclement weather involves several resources. Gene Darling of Emergency Management and Response (EOO-EMR) said the duty emergency manager keeps up with the latest local forecast and usually knows ahead of time if a weather system can potentially affect the Lab’s schedule.
In the case of Lab closures or delayed openings, the process usually begins around 3 a.m. The duty emergency manager begins receiving calls from the Lab’s support services subcontractor’s roads and grounds group, Protection Technology Los Alamos and Utilities and Infrastructure (FM-UI) to gather information on road conditions at the Lab. The duty emergency manager calls the state Department of Transportation, Los Alamos Police Department, the State Police and Meteorology and Air Quality (ENV-MAQ) for weather and additional information.
Once the duty emergency manager has collected the latest information concerning road conditions, the support services subcontractor’s progress in clearing sidewalks and parking lots, current weather conditions and the forecast for what is expected to occur later that day, he or she discusses the situation with other Emergency Operations Office (EOO) personnel before contacting the Director’s Office. There are several backup contacts throughout each phase of the plan in case the primary cannot be reached.
That person then confers with Department of Energy senior managers. The final decision and authority on whether to close entirely, delay opening or dismiss early rests with the DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Site Office. Once such a decision has been made, the duty emergency manager is contacted; EMR personnel call the primary contact in the Public Affairs Office. If it’s a delayed opening or closure, Public Affairs places the message on the UPDATE information hotline. Public Affairs then calls various radio and television stations, asking them to report the Lab’s operating status.
The entire process for delayed opening or Lab closure usually is completed before 5:30 a.m., giving Lab employees and contractor personnel time to find out what the situation is at the Lab. Darling said the plan works relatively well when bad weather occurs very early in the morning, but there’s really not much EMR can do in terms of warnings when bad weather strikes the area unexpectedly after 5 a.m. “There’s just no time to adequately respond to the situation,” he said.
In the case of an early dismissal, e-mail announcing the early dismissal is immediately sent to all employees, including subcontract personnel. A message also is recorded on the UPDATE Information Hotline and published in the Daily Newsbulletin.
Emergency Management personnel also contact the Los Alamos Public Schools superintendent, Los Alamos and State Police, PTLA and other organizations.
Personnel who are at work and want to know if the Lab is closing early can periodically call the UPDATE hotline (7-6622) or check the Daily Newsbulletin at http://www.lanl.gov/newsbulletin online. Remember to click the “Reload” button if you have previously accessed the site.
Lab workers who are at home and want to know if the Lab is on a delayed opening schedule or is closed for the day should call the hotline first, then check radio or television stations.
For more information about the Lab’s Early Dismissal/Closure/Delayed Opening Plan, call 7-6211.
