Schriever reminds commuters of 'Snow Call' procedures

  • Published
  • 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  With winter weather looming, Schriever personnel need to know how to receive information about road conditions and base closures or delays.

The following is a reminder of the Snow Call process and procedures:

Snow Call procedures
There are a variety of ways to find out current road conditions or snow call decisions, call 719-567-SNOW (7669), check the Schriever website at http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=19430, the Schriever Air Force Base Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SchrieverAirForceBase  or check local media stations.

Early release, delayed reporting or base closure may be necessary when road conditions are hazardous or impassable. These three conditions are defined as followed:

Early release
Non-mission essential and non-emergency personnel may depart their work location at a specified time before the end of the official duty day. The 50th Space Wing commander will specify the phasing intervals based on individual zip codes to avoid heavy traffic.

Base closure
Schriever is closed. Military members and Department of Defense civilians are not permitted to enter or leave the base. Anyone coming on base while closed will not be permitted to leave until roads on Schriever are safe for travel and are encouraged to remain on base until off-base roads are safe for travel. All mission-essential personnel on base will remain in place until their replacements can safely make it to the base. Residents in community housing on base are not permitted to drive on base until all roads on Schriever are safe for travel and are encouraged to remain on base until off-base roads are safe for travel. All Schriever events are cancelled until further notice.

Delayed reporting
Non-mission essential and/or non-emergency essential personnel have an additional amount of time to report for duty. Personnel should plan to arrive at their duty station no earlier than 9:30 a.m. to allow for on-base snow removal. Mission essential personnel should report for duty per normal schedule. All personnel should account for additional travel time when departing for their duty station in order to arrive safely by the required time. Wing calendar events will pick up as scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Delayed reporting may be directed to allow civil engineers time to clear on-base roads and parking lots.

Snow Call process
The 50th SW commander will make weather-related delayed reporting, early release and base closure decisions for only one reason: Safety. Factors used to determine safety include: road conditions, snow or ice accumulation, visibility, weather forecast and the ability to access Schriever parking lots and buildings after they have been cleared.

Road conditions throughout Colorado Springs neighborhoods where Schriever personnel live are also taken into consideration. More than 70 percent of Schriever personnel live east of Interstate 25, but elevations range from 5,900 to 7,700 feet. Determining safety starts with the on-duty 50th Security Forces Squadron and 50th Civil Engineer Squadron flight chiefs. The goal is to decide by 4 a.m. whether to delay, open as normal or close Schriever. The 50th SW commander makes the final decision based on all information provided.

After making the decision, the 50 SW Public Affairs office gets the word out to Schriever personnel via the base website at www.schriever.af.mil, the Schriever facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SchrieverAirForceBase, the Snow Call hotline at 719-567-SNOW (7669) and local radio and television stations.

In Colorado, weather conditions can change rapidly, making the process challenging depending on the strength of the storm. Safety is a priority when making all reporting decisions. Commuters should take their time, drive defensively, and always notify their supervisor if road conditions are more severe for their personal commute to Schriever and if they'll need to arrive at work later than scheduled.

Finally, while leadership strives to make the best decision each and every time for all concerned, some areas will naturally be impacted more than others. It is rare that all 8,000 people working at Schriever will be impacted equally so everyone should take responsibility for their personal safety and practice sound operational risk management.

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