Kidder County Senior Services recognizes the difficulty that weather imposes on our target groups and the resulting hazards for many attempting to venture out in such conditions. In keeping with our vision “Dedicated to Serve and Assist older Americans”, Kidder County Senior Services & Public Transit (KCSS/PT) makes every effort to provide our services to the older individual in a variety of weather conditions.
Decisions to cancel services are evaluated on a site-by-site basis and determining factors include availability of staff and operable equipment, weather and forecasts, highway reports and closing of schools and equivalent operations. Cancellation of services is announced over the radio and whenever possible all scheduled individuals are notified by phone or other means.
In adverse weather, such as a blizzard, KCSS/PT will provide scheduled meals if the staff is able to prepare the meal. Once a meal has been prepared all homebound individuals, whom we deliver to, and that can be reached, will have their meal(s) delivered. All available staff and volunteers contribute to accomplishing these tasks under such conditions.
KCSS/PT has shelf stable products such as frozen meals that are made available to individuals to store for future use in situations when we are unable to deliver or prepare the meals. This provides both the individual and our Agency with a measure of security for such vital services.
Scheduled meals, which are needed to fulfill our service delivery obligations and must be cancelled, will be made up on non-scheduled days.
Essential local transportation at sites that can be open will continue on passable roads pending availability of staff and vehicles that are operable. Transportation services must be temporarily discontinued on impassible roads. out of town transportation will be rescheduled for a later date. Vehicles are equipped with two-way radios to enable communications not only with us but possibly the sheriff’s department and county officials. Cell phones serve the same purpose.
In case of tornadoes, drills will take place to practice handling of consumers for safety. Staff will attempt to keep individuals at the location calm. In the centers staff will assist in getting people to areas with no or the fewest number of windows and make use of basements or shelters as available. Passengers in vehicles will be taken to shelter if feasible. If the vehicle is in the country, the passengers should be gotten out of the vehicle and instructed to lay down in a ditch, preferably between the tornado and the vehicle. Efforts shall be made to utilize community individuals knowledgeable in these matters for technical assistance. If one of the facilities currently used by our programs is destroyed, alternate locations shall be sought to continue services. If the facility housed one of the kitchens used to prepare meals, our first step would be to use another of our kitchens or one of the contractors’ supplying meals to our programs. If this were not feasible other methods to continue services would be sought.
Severe rains and floods, which render facilities and/or kitchens inoperable, are dealt with in much the same fashion as a tornado. Other locations in the community or service area are used. Alternate routes for roads that are impassable will be utilized if available. During electrical storms sensitive equipment, such as computers, will be shut off.
In the event a disaster is declared by the President in accordance with the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, or other disasters of such magnitude see the Emergency Disaster Plan.
