8 | A STORM IS BREWING A STORM IS BREWING | 9 A STORM IS BREWING The weather is unpredictable, but you can almost guarantee that an extreme weather event will strike somewhere within the footprint of where Flagger Force operates. Weather-related disasters are increasing, so it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but of ‘when.’ So, ask yourself, are you prepared? A traffic control professional is always prepared to respond for storm duty. Your PPE is serviceable, clean, and you’ve got the gear appropriate for the season. After a storm occurs in our footprint, you can expect Flagger Force to provide support. Employees who accept storm duty jobs far from where they live can expect the Operations Services Center (OSC) to make hotel arrangements for them. This information is typically shared with job leads via the job order on the Dispatch app. Crew leads should check out the notes field for hotel information. Normally, folks are asked to room together. Per diem and drive time are paid. The extra money will be included with your next paycheck after you have submitted your paperwork. And remember, be on the look out for posts about storm response duty on the Jobs stream of ITZ! Following a storm, a utility will conduct a damage assessment. Restoration begins first in the area with the most outages and largest number of customers impacted. Keep in mind that outage reports may not be perfectly accurate. You and the client may arrive to a job site, only to discover that the damage is more severe than first described. Charles “Sean” Marpoe, former advanced crew leader now a client specialist in the OSC, recalls a job where the initial report stated two powerline poles were down, when in reality it was four times as many. What would have been a four-hour job turned into a two-day job. Storms bring a variety of unknown variables. Dress appropriately to stay warm and dry. “Double everything you do,” says Marpoe. Bring an extra set of clothes and have enough food on hand to last the entire day, plus additional days you anticipate being on the job. Pack foods that are healthy and give you energy because the cold, windy, or wet conditions can drain your energy and strength. “Plan for a long day—some jobs last for 16 or more hours,” says eight-year Flagger Force employee and storm response veteran, advanced crew leader, Jeffrey Motter. Be extra alert on storm duty because the damage creates circumstances that are unusual for people living and working in the affected area. Keep safety at the front of your mind as you adjust to field conditions. Down trees, damaged bridges, and power outages are challenges to anticipate when working in storm-impacted areas. Weather conditions, which are always a factor in flagging, are more pronounced during storm duty, especially in snow and strong winds. Damage from tornadoes is also a factor in that the devastation is extensive and spans across a large area. Often our flagging operations occur in smaller ‘contained’ areas. Account for hills, curves, and slick roads and be mindful of other precautions relevant to setting up a work zone. The public is often frustrated by loss of power. People may approach you and ask, “When is the power coming back?” Sometimes they blame the traffic controllers for the break in service, misplacing their frustrations with the situation and faulting the flagger. Sometimes the public assumes that because we wear PPE, we are from the utility company. Be patient. Answer questions as best as you can and then direct the person to the job lead or to the client. Strong and well-organized work zone leadership is key to a successful job and supporting the storm restoration process. Raise your hand to help and do what is needed to get the work accomplished. Regardless of the storm, this is what all crews need to do to help keep our communities moving. Flagger Force thanks Jeffrey Motter, Charles “Sean” Marpoe, and Marie Tannenbaum for their contributions to this article.