Updated: Prepare Now for Inclement Weather

Our region is expected to receive heavy rain due to Hurricane Helene. A flood watch is also in effect. Now is the time to get familiar with our procedures so you're ready if inclement weather hits.

Friday, Sept. 26 Update: The phones are currently unavailable at Carilion Clinic Family Medicine in Floyd.

About the Storm

Here are things to know about Hurricane Helene:

• There is the potential for flash flooding.
• There may be power outages due to wind. Be prepared for power outages.
• There is the potential for additional tornado warnings.
• The western region is expected to receive more rain and wind than the Roanoke region.
• The storm is dynamic and may change. Be aware of local conditions; check a reliable source for weather updates, such as the National Weather Service.

Carilion-Specific Information

1. Know the Inclement Weather Policy

Your manager will let you know if your job is considered an emergency personnel position, and if you are required to come to work in inclement weather. If so, please be careful and have a plan in place so you can make it to and from work safely.

If you're not considered emergency personnel, check with your manager about your department's policies and processes for inclement weather.

2. Check CarilionClinic.org for Practice Closings During Severe Weather

If any practices are closed, there will be a yellow banner like this one on the top of the CarilionClinic.org homepage.

Closing announcements will also be shown on practice location pages. If there's no yellow banner, all practices are on their normal schedules.

Be sure to encourage your patients and their family members to check CarilionClinic.org before heading to their appointments when severe weather is in the forecast.

Practice managers, if you need to close your practice due to weather conditions, let patients, staff and the public know by following the instructions on this page about how to use our inclement weather alert system.

3. Check Inside Carilion and CC Alerts for Updates

For Carilion-specific updates throughout the event, check here on Inside Carilion for the top news on the home page.

Make sure that your contact information is up to date so that you will receive alerts when there is an emergency. Visit the Carilion Clinic Alerts member portal and sign in using your AD username and password (the same username and password you use for your Carilion email). Then verify that your information is current.

4. Download the Everbridge App

For urgent alerts, we will send notifications through the Carilion Clinic Alerts system by phone, text, email and Everbridge app.

The Everbridge app is available on all Carilion devices and can be downloaded for free on personal iPhone and Android devices. It has its own notification tone and will be used solely for emergency alerts (like major security or facility disruptions). An Everbridge job aid is available to help you download and configure the app.

Additionally, the app gives you the option to share your location securely (it is not tracked, nor is it shared outside of the app). Similar to governmental AMBER alerts, the feature allows you to receive relevant alerts in real time if you are in a location other than your saved address.

The location sharing feature is particularly valuable for staff who travel and work in various facilities. If you are in an impacted area, or if you enter that facility while the alert is active, your app will be pinged, allowing for real-time, location-based situational awareness.  

5. Call To See if Your Class Is Cancelled

Classes may be canceled, delayed or converted to a virtual format. Call the Class Cancellation Line (1-866-983-4143, Option 1) to listen to the message about class cancellations and changes, starting 2 hours before start of the class.

In all instances, regardless of the status of a class, you should do what is safest for you.

6. Prepare in Advance To Work from Home

If you plan to access Carilion applications from home, be sure you have signed up for multi-factor authentication through Imprivata ID. You will need to use it to verify your log-in information. Once you have signed up, you'll be able to access your email from the Inside Carilion homepage or through outlook.office.com.

If you need to access the Carilion network, use our Apps site at apps.CarilionClinic.org. The Apps site provides a secure connection to Carilion applications such as Epic, UKG and others. To log on, use your AD username and password.

The Technology Services Group hub has more information and job aids to help.

7. Most Importantly, Stay Safe!

Our patients are counting on us to be here for them regardless of the weather—please make sure you are ready to deal with any severe weather.