UPDATE: JBLM Curtails Operations Friday

UPDATE, 9:30 p.m., 1/19/12

(Editor's note Here's another update from JBLM)

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will continue curtailed operations on Friday, January 20, with only mission essential (Air Force Level Bravo) and critical (Air Force Level Alpha) personnel reporting for duty.

Both critical personnel and mission essential personnel should report at a
time determined by their chain of supervision.

Only JBLM civilian employees who are designated as mission essential or
critical should report for duty. Those not designated as mission essential or
critical will be placed on administrative leave during the curtailment.
Employees who are unsure about whether they are required to report for duty
should check with their supervisors for instructions.

Military personnel should follow the instructions of their chain of command;
commanders will determine who within their units are required to report and at
what time.

The Madigan Healthcare System will begin seeing patients at 10 am.  MHS staff
should report at 9:30 am.  The emergency room and labor and delivery will
remain open Thursday night and into Friday. Outpatient OB/GYN care is also
available.  Patients can call the TRICARE Regional Appointment Center at (800)
404-4506 for information specific to individual appointments.

JBLM officials recommend Madigan patients and staff use the Madigan Gate to
enter the installation, which will allow public works personnel to continue
improving road conditions elsewhere on base.

In addition, JBLM officials remind commuters that a portion of East Gate Road
is closed due to fallen trees and hazardous conditions. Drivers who normally
access the East Gate from Route 507 should take the Roy Cutoff Road, which
will allow them to bypass the closed portion of East Gate Road; or, they can
enter the installation via a different gate.

For the latest information about Joint Base Lewis-McChord road conditions,
closures, and delays, call (253) 967-1733 to hear a recorded message with the
latest information, check the JBLM Current Conditions Web site at
https://sponsor.lewis.army.mil/roadcon/update/roadcon.pdf, or check JBLM's
Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jblmgarrison. Air Force personnel on
McChord Field can also call (253) 982-TALK for updated information.

Base officials urge all motorists to use caution when driving under these
conditions. The base will continue to monitor weather and road conditions, and
JBLM community members should continue to check these sources for updates.

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UPDATE, 3:28 p.m., 1/19/12<p>

Joint Base Lewis-McChord has designated the McChord Field Fitness Center on McChord Field as a warming center, beginning at 4 p.m. Service members or family members who are without power and need someplace to warm up can go there, effective at 4 p.m.<p> ---

UPDATE, 2:34 p.m., 1/19/12

JBLM just announced that it's designating Wilson Gymnasum on JBLM North, as a warming center:

"Joint Base Lewis-McChord has designated Wilson Gymnasium on JBLM-North as a warming center. Service members or family members who are without power and need someplace to warm up can go there, effective immediately.
JBLM officials say they are also working on establishing a warming center for the McChord Field area of the installation. Additional information will be provided when that center is established.
For the latest information about Joint Base Lewis-McChord road conditions, closures, and delays, call (253) 967-1733 to hear a recorded message with the latest information, check the JBLM Current Conditions Web site at https://sponsor.lewis.army.mil/roadcon/update/roadcon.pdf, or check JBLM’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jblmgarrison. Air Force personnel on McChord Field can also call (253) 982-TALK for updated information."

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UPDATE, 12:10 p.m., 1/19/12

(Here's another message from JBLM)

Joint Base Lewis-McChord officials are advising residents of the installation to stay off the roadways and in their homes to the extent possible, due to icy conditions on the roads and an increasing number of falling trees and limbs.

Officials report that tree limbs laden with ice and snow are starting to break and fall more frequently, raising the possibility that someone could be injured. In addition, tree limbs could fall on power lines, creating a much more dangerous situation

In addition, keeping off the installation roadways will better enable public works personnel to continue clearing the roads and improving driving conditions..

Anyone on JBLM who observes a tree or limbs falling in a dangerous way, such as onto a house or a power line, should alert the Military Police by calling 967-7112 or 7113.

For the latest information about Joint Base Lewis-McChord road conditions, closures, and delays, call (253) 967-1733 to hear a recorded message with the latest information, check the JBLM Current Conditions Web site at https://sponsor.lewis.army.mil/roadcon/update/roadcon.pdf, or check JBLM’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jblmgarrison. Air Force personnel on McChord Field can also call (253) 982-TALK for updated information.

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UPDATE, 9:58 P.M., 1/18/12

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will continue curtailed operations on Thursday, January 19, with only mission essential (Air Force Level Bravo) and critical (Air Force Level Alpha) personnel reporting for duty.

Both critical personnel and mission essential personnel should report at a time determined by their chain of supervision.

Only JBLM civilian employees who are designated as mission essential or critical should report for duty. Those not designated as mission essential or critical will be placed on administrative leave during the curtailment. Employees who are unsure about whether they are required to report for duty should check with their supervisors for instructions.

Military personnel should follow the instructions of their chain of command; commanders will determine who within their units are required to report and at what time.

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UPDATE, 7:53 a.m., 1/18/12

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will curtail operations on Wednesday, January 18, with only mission essential (Air Force Level Bravo) and critical (Air Force Level Alpha) personnel reporting for duty.

Critical personnel should report for duty on time; mission essential personnel may report up to two hours late.

Only JBLM civilian employees who are designated as mission essential or critical should report for duty. Those not designated as mission essential or critical will be placed on administrative leave during the curtailment. Employees who are unsure about whether they are required to report for duty should check with their supervisors for instructions.

Military personnel should follow the instructions of their chain of command; commanders will determine who within their units are required to report and at what time.

Madigan Healthcare System has canceled all scheduled patient appointments for Wednesday. Additionally, all outpatient pharmacy services will be extremely limited on Wednesday, and patients are encouraged to call (253) 968-2999 prior to coming to the hospital. The emergency room will remain operational. Patients will be contacted with rescheduling information.

For the latest information about Joint Base Lewis-McChord road conditions, closures, and delays, call (253) 967-1733 to hear a recorded message with the latest information, check the JBLM Current Conditions Web site at https://sponsor.lewis.army.mil/roadcon/update/roadcon.pdf, or check JBLM’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/jblmgarrison. Air Force personnel on McChord Field can also call (253) 982-TALK for updated information.

Base officials urge all motorists to use caution when driving under these conditions. The base will continue to monitor weather and road conditions, and JBLM community members should continue to check these sources for updates.

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(Editor's note: This is from Joint Base Lewis-McChord)

Due to projected poor weather and road conditions, JBLM service members and civilian employees who are not designated as mission essential (Air Force level Bravo) or critical (Air Force level Alpha) are authorized an early release today, Jan. 17, beginning at 3 p.m.

In addition, due to projected poor driving conditions on Wednesday morning, JBLM military and civilian personnel who are not designated as mission essential (Level Bravo for Air Force personnel) or critical (Level Alpha for Air Force personnel) are authorized to report for work up to 2 hours later than usual, but no later than 10 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Officials urge employees who are unsure about their work schedule to check with their supervisors for instructions. Army and Air Force military personnel should follow the instructions of their chain of command.

Madigan Army Medical Center will curtail patient appointments today after 2:30 p.m.  For tomorrow, Madigan will not see patients until 9 a.m.   As winter weather conditions develop, patients should check www.mamc.amedd.army.mil for updates or call the TRICARE Regional Appointment Center at (800) 404-4506 to check on or change a medical appointment.  Madigan personnel should confirm work schedules through their supervisory and chain of command channels.

To assist with the early departures, the Directorate of Emergency Services will open the Center Drive Gate for outbound traffic early, beginning at 2 p.m.

For the latest information about Joint Base Lewis-McChord road conditions, closures, and delays, call (253) 967-1733 to hear a recorded message with the latest information, check the JBLM Current Conditions Web site at https://sponsor.lewis.army.mil/roadcon/update/roadcon.pdf, or check JBLM’s Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/jblmgarrison. Air Force personnel on McChord Field can also call (253) 982-TALK for updated information.

Base officials urge all motorists to use caution when driving under these conditions. The base will continue to monitor weather and road conditions, and JBLM community members should continue to check these sources for updates.