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Inclement Weather Policy
RTEC and its Subcontracts
will not transport in unsafe conditions. RTEC’s first concern is for the
safety of its riders and employees. While every effort will be made to operate
RTEC’s vehicles according to published schedules, recognized weather conditions
may cause operation of vehicles to be unsafe. The following guidelines apply in
these situations:
1.
As a general guide, the Operations Manager will cancel RTEC services in a
county when the roads become hazardous for travel due to inclement weather.
2.
RTEC’s Operations Manager will make the determination by obtaining timely
reports on weather conditions in the transportation delivery area, using all
resources available to assess the weather conditions (i.e. weather channel
reports, radio reports, and driver reports to dispatch).
3.
In the event localized inclement weather exists, the RTEC driver may
recommend to the Dispatcher that all services or a particular route be cancelled
stating reasons for recommending such cancellations. While the Operations
Manager or the Dispatcher in the absence of the Operations Manager will make the
final decision, the driver’s recommendation will be heeded.
4.
Drivers will closely coordinate such service cancellations with the
Dispatcher and contracts.
5.
The Dispatcher on duty will notify the appropriate radio stations about
limited services and/or a delayed schedule, using the telephone numbers issued
by the Operations Manager and posted in a conspicuous place.
6.
When emergencies arise, RTEC Reservation Staff will give dialysis clients
or urgent care passengers the option to (1) end their appointment early and
return home via RTEC vehicles before conditions worsen, or (2) contact the
National Guard or other emergency units for the return transportation home.
7.
During an emergency, that causes a power/telephone outage, the Operations
Manager or the Manager of the Provider Network in the absence of the Operations
Manager will alert the HSTD Coordinator in Frankfort that the outage exists.
Backup telephone numbers to relay urgent messages will be provided to the HSTD
Coordinator.
Transit service will be closed when roads are
hazardous for travel. During inclement weather conditions, RTEC will cancel
service or operate on a limited basis. RTEC will resume services on roads that
are priority for snow removal and will resume regular service when all roads are
clear and safe for travel.
During
inclement weather conditions, RTEC will operate under one of three stages:
STAGE 1
= Some isolated areas within counties of operation have hazardous weather
conditions; there may be some delays in rural areas and services will continue
only on the roads/streets that are priority for snow removal as they are made
passable.
STAGE 2
= Some counties have hazardous conditions; services will be cancelled in these
counties until roads are safe to travel. Only Dialysis and Urgent Care
transportation will be provided in those counties.
STAGE 3
= If the Commonwealth of Kentucky declares a State of Emergency, RTEC will not
operate and the RTEC office will not be fully staffed under these conditions.
Dialysis patients will listen to the radio and call the National Guards for
assistance.

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