The icy winds and first snow that blew through
Baltimore last week were a sure sign that it's
time for a refresher on Johns Hopkins' weather-related
policies.
Again this winter, information on any changes in
university operations due to snow or other bad
weather will be announced on the Johns Hopkins weather
emergency hotline at 410-516-7781 or, from
outside the Baltimore area, 800-548-9004. The same
information will be posted online at
webapps.jhu.edu/emergencynotices.
Information on the university's status after an
overnight snow is generally posted on the phone
line and Web site by around 6 a.m., with frequent updates
throughout the day in the case of a major
storm.
Keeping the phone numbers and Web address in a handy
place throughout the winter will allow
you to easily check for announcements during or after a
storm.
Please note: Johns Hopkins' policy is to remain open
on a normal schedule whenever possible,
both because minimizing interruption of teaching and
research is a priority and because so many
university employees and students are involved in patient
care.
Though Johns Hopkins notifies local news media when it
closes, cancels classes or opens at a
later than normal hour, there are several reasons why you
should rely instead on the weather
emergency hotline or the emergency notices Web page:
* The phone line and Web page make information on Johns
Hopkins available as soon as a decision
is made. Both are updated as soon as there is new
information.
Both the phone line and Web page
are available to you at all times. If you rely on TV or
radio,
you'll have to wait until the Johns Hopkins announcement
comes around.
TV and radio will not broadcast
announcements when Johns Hopkins remains open, only when it
is closed or has a delayed opening. The phone line and Web
page will provide you with information
whenever the weather is questionable, even if it's just
that the university is open as usual.
The phone line and Web page will
provide the most complete and accurate weather emergency
information available on Johns Hopkins. TV and radio
stations must report on dozens or even hundreds
of institutions. They do not have time to broadcast
everything you need to know, including information
on outpatient clinics, snow day shuttle bus operations, and
library and rec center closings.
The university's policy on weather-related curtailment
of operations, including definition of
relevant terms such as required attendance employee,
liberal leave plan and delayed arrival plan, is
online at
www.jhu.edu/~hr1/pol-man/appdxj.htm.