{"487901":{"#nid":"487901","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Campus Ready for Winter Weather","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EAs it finally starts to feel like winter and some forecasters are calling for Georgia\u0027s first flurries, the Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Preparedness is ready.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EEmergency Preparedness works closely with Facilities Management to plan for seasonal weather events in advance. Facilities is prepared with ice melt, brine mixing stations, and utility vehicles that can pre-treat critical intersections, traffic areas, sidewalks, and stairs. This treatment is designed to slow the accumulation of ice and snow and make it easier to clear after accumulation has begun. Facilities also works with Parking and Transportation Services to address accessibility in parking lots and decks.\u0026nbsp;The Utilities Maintenance group is prepared to work around the clock to ensure campus heating and steam systems remain operational.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EThe Office of Emergency Preparedness advises that all employees, especially commuters, be prepared for whatever weather comes their way.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003E\u201cEspecially for commuters, it is critical that they put together a basic kit for their cars,\u201d said William Smith, director for Emergency Preparedness. Smith says kits must include food, water, a space blanket, gloves, hats, a flashlight, and a cellphone charger. Drivers should also keep fuel tanks at least half full.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EIf an ice or snow event occurs, Facilities will establish a central Severe Weather Command Center to assist with communication, and dispatching services and equipment around campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EIn the event of winter weather, the Tech community is urged to actively monitor road and traffic conditions and use good judgment in determining when they can safely travel. Employees and students with any concerns should talk with their supervisor or instructor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5 class=\u0022p6\u0022\u003EClosing Time?\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p6\u0022\u003EIn the event of inclement weather, the Institute may issue one of the following designations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p6\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003Cstrong\u003EClasses canceled\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201d means all classes and instructional laboratories will not meet. Administrative and research activities not directly tied to instruction will generally continue as normal, unless otherwise instructed by a supervisor. Other support employees may also be instructed not to report to work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p6\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003Cstrong\u003ECampus closed\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201d means no employees are to report to work aside from those previously designated as \u201cemergency essential\u201d by their department or otherwise instructed by a supervisor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p6\u0022\u003ECampus opening or operations may also be \u003Cstrong\u003Edelayed\u003C\/strong\u003E until a designated later time. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EStudents, faculty, and staff can find out about campus closures and Tech\u2019s weather response in several ways. In the event of a closed campus or canceled\/delayed classes, an alert will be sent via the Georgia Tech Emergency Notification System (GTENS). Updates will also be shared on the Georgia Tech homepage,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewww.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;as campus leadership evaluates and determines the response to each weather situation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022p5\u0022\u003EInformation is also shared via social media. Updates will be posted to Twitter at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/twitter.com\/gtpdalerts\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E@gtpdalerts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/twitter.com\/georgiatech\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E@georgiatech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and on Facebook at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gtemergency\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewww.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gtemergency\u0022\u003Efacebook.com\/gtemergency\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/georgiatech\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ewww.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efacebook.com\/georgiatech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp class=\u0022p1\u0022\u003EAs it finally starts to feel like winter, Georgia Tech\u0027s Office of Emergency Preparedness is ready.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As it finally starts to feel like winter, Georgia Tech\u0027s Office of Emergency Preparedness is ready."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2016-01-19 18:48:46","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:20:27","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-01-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2016-01-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"358451":{"id":"358451","type":"image","title":"Walking on Campus in the Snow","body":null,"created":"1449245775","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:16:15","changed":"1475895093","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:51:33","alt":"Walking on Campus in the Snow","file":{"fid":"201513","name":"snowwalking.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/snowwalking_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/snowwalking_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1634117,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/snowwalking_0.jpg?itok=ZuuEg0up"}},"488001":{"id":"488001","type":"image","title":"Snow on Campus","body":null,"created":"1453309200","gmt_created":"2016-01-20 17:00:00","changed":"1475895242","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:54:02","alt":"Snow on Campus","file":{"fid":"204367","name":"snow-campus.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/snow-campus_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/snow-campus_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1244001,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/snow-campus_0.jpg?itok=PS6E1Jm0"}}},"media_ids":["358451","488001"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/police.gatech.edu\/emergencypreparedness\/","title":"GT Office of Emergency Preparedness"},{"url":"https:\/\/passport-prod.gatech.edu\/emergency","title":"Update GTENS Preferences"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"8743","name":"emergency preparedness"},{"id":"8185","name":"winter weather"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:william.smith@ep.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EWilliam Smith\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOffice of Emergency Preparedness\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristen.bailey@comm.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKristen Bailey\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}