Columbia Housing Weather Alert Response for Thursday, February 6, 2020

February 6, 2020

For Immediate Release

Contact: Cynthia Hardy

chardy@columbiahousingsc.org

(803) 254-3886 Ext 227

(803) 609-4331 mobile

Columbia Housing Weather Alert Response for Thursday, February 6, 2020

Columbia, SC.... Columbia Housing has implemented its emergency response protocol to address the threat of flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, tornadoes and power outages for its residents. These weather-related threats are classified as a Level 1 Emergency and the following protocol should be followed:

During a Level 1 Emergency, Security Staff and Maintenance Staff are Columbia Housing's First Responders. They are primarily responsible for Columbia Housing's 'direct response' and should consider themselves on-call after-hours throughout the emergency.

The CH Property Management Teams, Resident Services Staff, Case Managers, and Executive Leadership are considered Secondary Responders to provide support, as needed, to Columbia Housing's First Responders. The emergency response protocol to address the current threat of flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, tornadoes and power outages for its residents is as follows:

Sandbagging & Flash Flooding

Sandbags should be placed at Columbia Housing units in the flood prone areas such as Calhoun and Harden Streets and other low-lying areas. Security staff and Maintenance staff are responsible for installing the Sandbags in coordination with Property Management Teams.

Damaging Winds, Tornadoes & Power Outages

Columbia Housing's Emergency Answering Service can be reached at (803) 251-2747. Residents are encouraged to phone in any emergency that may arise related to the inclement weather. Power outages are to be reported to Dominion Energy at 1-888-333-4465.  If there are prolonged outages in any complex or unit; Project Management Teams should be prepared to transport and refer residents, as necessary, to City of Columbia sponsored shelters.

"As reflected in our recently updated and adopted Emergency Preparedness Plan, it is imperative that we are ready in case of any emergency," says Interim Executive Director Ivory Mathews. "For this weather emergency, we do have units in flood prone areas that we are monitoring. Our teams understand we have an all-hands-on-deck philosophy when it comes to emergency response," concludes Mathews.