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I just found out from one of my DCMs, who was trying to drop diapers off during her lunch break, that they have closed my road for all traffic. They would not let her drive down the road but told her that she could park and walk the 4 blocks down the street. IM LIVID. She has a child here with CP in a wheel chair and then also a 1 yo. I called the police department to raise hell and they said its a utility issue.. So I called the utility company and they said it was an emergency and there was a gas leek. I mean, running a business that cares for children I really feel like I should have been notified in someway. They said it should take another 4-6 hours....That puts it at 7:30 at the latest. I close at 5:30 and most of my parents pick up between 4:30-5. Including the DCM with the special needs child. I just had to call my parents and tell them what whats going on and that I had no idea, but they should still try to come pick their kids up and normal time and "pull out momma bear status." They HAVE to allow them to pick their kids up. The ulitlity company said it wasn't a dangerous gas leek which is why they didn't evacuate the area... but my question is, if its not a danger and I don't need to be evacuated there is no reason why they can't come get their kids. Its outrageous. I'm so irritated right now.... And even if they walk to get their kids how am I supposed to go to the grocery store after work? I mean.... wth....
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Is it possible that a car with a sparking catalytic converter could cause an explosion? Walking wouldn't be an issue.
Can the parents take an alternative road to get to your house? -
I don't know.. they said they will let local traffic through if they are already previously out and need to get home. But other than that they can't have people coming and going. Ive already seen one car drive through and that was a guy that lives a few houses down. But no, there is no other way to get my house. I'm on one main road in town and they blocked me off from both directionsComment
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Hopefully they can get it resolved soon.
Our electricity is going to be shut off all day on Sat for "maintenance". Last year, they shut it off on a Thursday. I loaded up and we went to the beach.Comment
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I had a construction crew hit a 6inch gas main in front of my home, threw 8 kids in the back of my pickup and raced for safety. No shoes, car seats, diapers, formula, etc...just my dckids, my keys and cellphone.
We were out of our home and of course no daycare for a couple days. They let us walk back in and get some clothes and my purse but warned us to not even flip a light switch.I see little people.Comment
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If they are letting residents drive in, I don't see why parents can't go pick up their kids. If it was really dangerous, no one would be able to drive in. Honestly, for the mother with the disabled child AND the 1 year old, I would fib and tell them she lives there. 4 blocks is not too far for everyone else to walk. Can you lend out an umbrella stroller or two for the evening as an option for parents who have more than one kid to get to the car?Comment
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Can you take the kids for a walk at pickup time and meet the parents at the end of the road or a local park?Comment
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Typically if they are not evacuating, they are expecting that you will shelter in place.- Unless otherwise stated, all my posts are personal opinion and worth what you paid for them.
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First, I am sorry you are having to deal with this.
However, just because you run a home based business does not necessarily mean they had to tell you anything. You operate in a residential area where most people probably leave their homes in the mornings and go to work and not return until evening.
Allowing RESIDENTS who live there to pass is standard and notification in these types of situations in my area are mandatory ONLY if the outage or closure is going to be longer than 8 hours.
They don't HAVE to allow the parents to drive in to pick up their children, although I am guessing they more than likely will but just as we ask that parents see things from our perspectives, you have to step back and see things from theirs. Do you know how time consuming it would be to go door to door to notify residents that the road is going to be temporarily closed? It would definitely take enough time that it is simply easier to get the utility work done as quick as possible and not worry about notifying anyone.
Also utility workers have a dangerous job as it is. They aren't watching for traffic or guarding their bodies against "looky-loo's" and head turners that are driving by....that is potentially dangerous to those workers. Their job is to repair the issue and move along as quickly as possible and having to worry about traffic really shouldn't be their concern.
I know you mentioned that you have a DCM with a special needs child. I am sorry that this is an inconvenience but how were the utility workers suppose to know that? Maybe you could walk down and meet the parents for pick up so they don't all have to drive through the work/construction area.....
I don't mean to come across harshly or rudely about this but my BIL worked for a utility company a few years back. He was killed when a car (who was not a resident and insisted on being allowed to drive through).
The driver was gawking at the utility workers climbing up a pole when he clipped my BIL from behind. My BIL never even saw the car coming...he had ear plugs in due to the noise of the equipment and was focusing on getting the job done as quick as possible so the residents weren't inconvenienced for longer than necessary.
He left behind a wife and two small children.
I know it is easy to be upset or angry when LIFE inconveniences us but it really is necessary for us to stop and think of ALL sides of the issues before becoming so upset about how things effect us and us alone.Comment
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Oh BC! That is so unfortunate.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
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How sad - I'm sorry for your loss BlackCat.
Brooksie, are your licensed or registered or anything so they know you run a child care?
I have a similar story...
When my DH was in graduate school I provided child care for other student's children in our school-owned apartment on campus. I was regulated by the graduate school itself so the school KNEW I took care of children, but when the campus went on lock-down because the police were hunting for an armed suspect NO-ONE from the school let me know some crazy person was running around the area with a gun. Luckily one of the children's moms worked on campus so she called me.
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Thanks ladies.. lovethis
It was several years ago but I just wanted to share the story so that OP could see another side of the story.
As humans, I think we tend to only see things from our perspectives and don't always consider how things effect others.
It reminds me of being in Home Depot or Menards....anyone who shops there regularly knows what I mean....they have the flag people "directing" the fork lift to whatever aisle they need to work in and then they block off the entire aisle so no one can get down it. I always thought it was silly to block the entire aisle but with so many liabilities out there now days, I can see why people/companies do what they do now.Comment
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Bc- so sorry for your loss.
My city is doing road work in our area, they notified all of the residents via flyer of the proposed dates, and the director of public works got my phone number off of my business sign up front to ask when it was convenient for me, or if it would hinder my business at all to do the work as planned.
Of course I told him that he should plan around his schedule, and that although it IS inconvenient for me, I can deal for a few days throughout the summer. He thanked me for being so nice about it, and is coming next week to let the daycare kids sit in an excavator and wear hard hats and talk about what they are doing. NEAT!
We live 4 houses from a corner, and will be meeting parents there, so we will hang out for about 30-45 minutes. I have spoken to the people that live on the corner and they are allowing me use of their front yard/sidewalk & I plan on bringing bubbles and chalk.
I think part of our job, is doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and rolling with what comes our way. Yup, it's super inconvenient but that's just a part of life.Comment
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BC: I am so sorry for your loss, that is horrible. No matter how many years ago it was, it is very unfortunate.
I have a ton of respect for Utility workers and really do understand their need for safety. My only issue was not having any notification despite being licensed, and as I know it was an emergency I really had no way of knowing. And with the type of emergency I was not only concerned with the children's well being but also the parents not being able to get them if they needed to.
To give a better idea of the layout of this whole issue:: Think about it as A, B, C, and D. A and D are where they blocked off the road. I am at B, and where they were working on it was C. I can see it from my front porch and am understanding with them having to fix the problem. That obviously wasn't the issue. But there is no reason why they wouldn't allow someone to go from B to A. By the time DCM with the special needs child and 1 yo came back they had remembered her and finally let her through, but as she notified them the first time of her situation, at first I was irritated they were so unwilling to help her. I am now, however, glad they considered her circumstance and allowed her to pass through. But throughout the day I saw many people coming through and it was just shocking they originally showed no understanding. My other families did end up having to park and walk through the road work, since they entered from the D side and had to pass through the work which is at C. After everyone was picked up I had to take my DD to the grocery store for her formula and milk and the road was still blocked off at A (no workers or flaggers any where in sight) so I just by passed the road block, which was obviously a danger to any workers. Also, when I had called local PD and the utility company they were very unhelpful and not understanding in any way, as they (the utility company specifically) talked in circles and contradicted themselves.) But no matter, the day is over and every one got home safe and hopefully it won't be an issue again tomorrow. Thanks for everyones input, and again, BC... so sorry for your families loss.Comment
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