Emergency Preparedness

Preparedness Checklist

If you are in the path of a storm or in a designated evacuation zone, please take necessary precautions to ensure you and your family are safe.

What to do

• Follow local safety and community guidance to prepare your family and home. Refer to Ready.gov and the American Red Cross for important planning information for you, your family and pets.
• Update your personal contact information and emergency contacts in Global Self Service. This will help us get important information to you.
• Add the Employee Center (formerly HRdirect) number (800-561-0861) to your phone contacts. This is the caller ID number that will display when we contact you with information about area impact.
• Add your manager’s contact information to your phone contacts. Check-in and provide updates, including any challenges that may prevent you from working.
• Take home your computer, charger and other items necessary to complete your job to prepare for unplanned office closures. Plan to have your computer secured in any situation.
• Make sure you have cell phone chargers (for your car, too, if possible).
• Employees who travel or are on the road as part of their job responsibilities should be aware of impending weather and hazards. If you anticipate inclement weather, consider rescheduling appointments. If you encounter severe conditions that limit your ability to safely navigate, wait until conditions improve.

What to know

• Refer to the Emergency Closing and Severe Weather Guidelines, which includes information about pay, closure notifications and working from home during closures.
• The Global Crisis Management Team coordinates disaster response with local leadership. The team collectively assesses the situation and decides whether to close, delay start times, or release employees early for office and home locations.
• Familiarize yourself with the emergency notification procedures for your site. Know your site's Emergency Action Plan, emergency shelter areas and evacuation procedures. View the Emergency Preparedness & Response overview for more information.
  
• The Employee Alert System will notify you using the contact information entered in Global Self Service. It has the ability to contact your home/cell phone as well as your work and personal email address with important messages.
• Contact the Technology Help Desk at 888-848-3375 if you have difficulty connecting to the network.
• Our offices usually remain open unless they are in a Hurricane Warning area or Mandatory Evacuation Zone, even when schools or daycares may close. Alternate child care, additional commute time or other adjustments may be required.

Hotel and vehicle rental

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is our global travel management services partner. Employees can use this service to book hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel needs through the travel portal or by phone at 212-801-7709.

Resources on using this system can be found on the Travel Approval/Reservation Training page.

Discounts on vehicle rentals can also be found on the Employee Discounts site. While hotel and vehicle rental expenses are your responsibility, we hope the discounts offered through these programs will be helpful.

Resources

• For detailed forecasts and alerts by state and county:
  • Weather Alerts
  • Weather.gov
• American Red Cross
• Ready.gov

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Natural Disaster Support

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The EAP is available 24/7 to provide confidential help to support well-being, including free counseling sessions and unlimited telephonic support.
  • 866-781-6396 or visit liveandworkwell.com for employees eligible for UnitedHealth Group, OptumCare and Optum Partner Services benefits. Use access codes United for UnitedHealth Group, OptumCare for Optum Care and OPS for Optum Partner Services.
  • For all other U.S. employees including not yet integrated employees, contact your People Team or Human Resources leader to inquire about available benefits.
• Additional well-being resources located at unitedwellbeing.uhg.com
• FEMA offers information about recovery assistance and grants.
• Disaster Loan Assistance offers federal disaster loans for businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
• USDA Federal Assistance offers food and disaster resources.
• American Red Cross provides assistance information in your area.
• Better Business Bureau helps you locate trusted professionals for any repairs.

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