Fort Knox Inclement Weather Information
What to know and do when an installation-level or Fort Knox Community Schools operating status change is made

 

 

Road condition levels and associated snow/ice removal responsibilities

  • Road condition levels
    • GREEN - Clear and dry/wet. No restrictions
    • AMBER - Cautionary driving conditions. Road surface may have visible snow/icy areas or be covered with packed snow
    • RED - Hazardous driving conditions. Roads are covered with ice or hard-packed snow. Heavy precipitation and/or high winds are limiting visibility
    • BLACK - Extremely dangerous conditions. All roads are considered not passable. Roads are covered in more than 6 inches of snow, hard-packed snow or ice and unplowed. Heavy snowfall and/or high winds causing zero visibility are occurring
      • NOTE: At least one installation gate still remains open during road condition BLACK, and those needing to travel by personally-owned vehicle (POV) to and from the cantonment (Fort Knox “city” area) may still do so
    • For cantonment road condition updates, visit the Fort Knox homepage (home.army.mil/knox) or call 502-624-KNOX (5669)
    • For range road condition updates, visit the Fort Knox homepage (home.army.mil/knox) or call 502-624-COLD (2653) 
  • Road/parking lot treatment and clearing responsibilities
    • Cantonment (except neighborhoods and motor pools) - Directorate of Public Works contract crews
    • Neighborhoods - Knox Hills crews
    • Range - Range Operations Branch crews
    • Motor pools - Units/organizations operating out of those respective footprints
  • GOOD TO KNOW:
    • Crews treat roads in advance of severe weather events as possible and when likely to be effective
    • Crews make every effort to clear all roads/parking lots as quickly as possible. Understand, however, that specified areas receive priority for strategic, mission critical and overarching safety purposes
    • Regardless of advance planning, several weather variables often determine how effectively crews are able to treat, clear and maintain roads (e.g., surface and air temperatures, timing and significance of temperature changes, amount/duration of sunlight, winds, amount and types of precipitation)

Installation-level and Fort Knox Community Schools notifications

  • During a weather emergency, the Garrison Commander, in conjunction with the Senior Commander and Fort Knox DoDEA Schools superintendent, may direct an installation-level and/or Fort Knox Community Schools delay in reporting, early release or closure. NOTE: Individual on-post organizations still ultimately make independent determinations based on their associated plans and mission requirements
  • The Fort Knox website (home.army.mil/knox) is the primary site for information on the following:
    • Installation-level operating status
    • Fort Knox Community Schools (FKCS) operating status
    • Road conditions
    • Closures and adjusted hours of service-oriented organizations and facilities
    • NOTE: The aforementioned items will typically not be listed unless there are changes and updates to provide
  • An installation-level and/or FKCS delay in reporting or closure is also disseminated via the following platforms:
    • 502-624-KNOX (5669)
    • Fort Knox Facebook (www.facebook.com/fortknoxky)
    • Fort Knox Twitter (www.twitter.com/fortknoxky)
    • Local news media
      • Expect to read or hear short messages (e.g., “Fort Knox 2-hr delay” or “Fort Knox closed”), as news media’s input systems accept limited amounts and types of information. The messages will not detail which personnel are to report to or remain at their place of duty
    • Digital Garrison app via push notification
      • Go to the Settings section of the app to enable Installation (push) Notifications
    • “Knox Ops Center Msg” or “KNOXINFO” workforce email
    • ALERT! Mass Warning Notification System
      • ALERT! should already be on work computers and prompt users to sign up to receive messages on weather/emergency actions. If the ALERT! icon is not on the taskbar, the employee should contact their Information Management Officer or the Installation Operations Center
    • FKCS-specific notification system (for staff as well as parents and guardians of children attending FKCS)
  • Installation-level early release information is typically first announced to Fort Knox leadership by the Installation Operations Center. This is the preferred method because supervisors are given specific times to release their employees, which allows for controlled, staggered release and avoidance of traffic congestion issues. 
    • NOTE: Individual on-post organizations still ultimately make independent determinations based on their associated plans and mission requirements
  • Any updates to range road condition updates are available at 502-624-COLD (2653)

 

Key notes on Ireland Army Health Clinic and Child & Youth Services plans

  • Ireland Army Health Clinic (all functions other than EMS, to include Binter Street Pharmacy) follows the installation-level operating status
    • For purposes of a scheduled appointment
      • IRAHC will observe delays from the start of standard duty hours at 8 a.m. (e.g., If the installation is on a two-hour delay, appointments prior to 10 a.m. will be canceled.
      • IRAHC staff will contact affected beneficiaries to reschedule appointments. The appointment line at 1-800-493-9602 is manned when IRAHC is open.   
  • The Child Development Center and School Age Center will accept children 30 minutes prior to the designated delay report time
    • Child and Youth Services, which encompasses the CDC and SAC, will observe delays from the start of standard duty hours at 8 a.m.
      • If an installation level one-hour delay is announced, CDC and SAC will accept children at 8:30 a.m.
  • Unless otherwise noted, all other DFMWR facilities, including fitness centers, will respond to the designated delay report time from the start of standard duty hours at 8 a.m.

 

Responsibilities and considerations for commanders, directors, managers and supervisors

  • Understand all information on this webpage as well as the Fort Knox Winter Storm Operations Plan (Contact the Installation Operations Center (IOC) if unclear on some aspects of the plan)
  • Understand your individual organization’s associated plans (including internal communications processes), and communicate them to your personnel
  • Ensure your “weather essential” emergency employees are identified, notified in writing and comprehend the designation
    • NOTE 1: Supervisors can designate different emergency employees for different circumstances expected to arise from emergencies/events (5 CFR 630.1603).  “Weather essential” personnel, a subset of emergency employees, are to report to, or remain at their place of duty to continue mission essential operations and/or provide support to Fort Knox’s severe weather response function. 
  • Have strip maps to off-post residences of your “weather essential” emergency employees as part of ensuring these personnel can be located and transported when necessary to their place of duty. Use internal resources (e.g., GOV) to pick up your “weather essential” emergency employees unable to travel to work in their personally-owned vehicles (POVs)
    • NOTE: BLACK is the most severe road condition, but at least one installation gate remains open and those needing to travel by personally-owned vehicle (POV) to and from the cantonment (Fort Knox “city” area) may still do so
  • Have personnel identified and/or processes in place for ensuring sidewalks and walkways in your facility footprints are treated with ice melt or salt, as necessary
    • Ice melt and salt pick-up – available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday a Richardson Hall (Building 1730), located between Phantom Division and Famous 4th Division roads
    • Bulk loads of regular road salt (i.e., for motor pools and unit formation areas) – available from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday next to the outdoor PT structure (1718) on the north side of Marshall Hall (Building 1726), intersection of Phantom Division Road and 10th Cavalry Road
    • NOTE: Personnel must sign in at the pick-up sites to request the ice melt or salt. If requiring bulk loads, the requesters must supply buckets or barrels from their organizations and arrange for their own appropriate transportation
  • Have organization-determined designated parking areas (DPAs) for clearing by road crews
    • DPAs must be communicated to and agreed upon by the IOC and DPW
    • DPAs must only encompass the space needed for “weather essential” emergency employees as well as projected customers during the weather event (as applicable)
    • DPAs must be clear of vehicles to allow for snow/ice clearing
  • Have other parking areas as clear as possible (e.g., move all GOVs to one spot) to support additional snow/ice clearing
  • Good to know information about unscheduled leave Click Here

 

Responsibilities and considerations for the workforce

  • Understand all information on this webpage
  • Understand your individual organization’s associated inclement weather plans (including internal communications processes)
  • Understand your work responsibilities and whether you are considered a “weather essential” emergency employee for weather events
    • About “emergency employee” positions
      • “Weather essential” employees are a subset of emergency employees and are required to keep critical activities functioning during weather emergencies
      • Employees in these positions must report for duty or stay on duty, as directed, regardless of any delays or closures
      • Employees in these positions who fail to report are not authorized administrative leave and may be charged leave or absent without leave for their absence
      • NOTE: BLACK is the most severe road condition, but at least one installation gate remains open and those needing to travel by personally-owned vehicle (POV) to and from the cantonment (Fort Knox “city” area) may still do so
      • Check with your leader/supervisor if you have questions
    • Telework considerations
      • Employees eligible to telework and participating in a telework program are able to safely travel to and perform work at their approved telework site (e.g., home). Employees on telework are expected to continue working normal duty hours regardless of closures, delays, or early releases.
      • As such, when emergency situations require early release or closure at the regular worksite, telework employees may not be excused from duty since work can be performed at their approved telework site (e.g., home)
    • Leave considerations concerning delayed reporting
      • Employees who arrive to work at the opening time designated by their organization will be granted administrative leave to cover the period from the beginning of their regular workday until their actual arrival
      • Employees who do not arrive by the designated opening time may request leave for any time absent beyond the opening time designated by their organization or can be charged absent without leave. Subject to supervisory approval, employees who do not report at all may request leave for the entire day or can be charged absent without leave for their absence
      • NOTE: “Two-hour delay” means that non-“weather essential” emergency employees are to report to their place of work two hours after their regularly scheduled start time, unless otherwise instructed by their leadership
    • Early release considerations
      • Unless otherwise instructed, employees will be released in phases beginning with those living farthest from the installation
      • Phased early release reduces the congestion of traffic departing the installation and the safety hazards inherent with inclement weather
    • Good to know information about unscheduled leave Click Here
NOTE: Individual on-post organizations still ultimately make independent determinations based on their associated plans and mission requirements
  • Contract employees must contact their employer for specific instructions

 

Responsibilities and considerations for Knox Hills residents

  • Remove snow from the porches, steps, sidewalks and driveways around your residence within 24 hours after snowfall
  • Treat the porches, steps, sidewalks and driveways around your residence with ice melt or salt, as necessary (ice melt/salt not provided by the installation or Knox Hills)

NOTE: BLACK is the most severe road condition, but at least one installation gate remains open and those needing to travel by personally-owned vehicle (POV) to and from the cantonment (Fort Knox “city” area) may still do so