Hurricane Irene

[newtodaycare22]

I'm right outside of DC, so we had the earthquake Tuesday and now we're prepping for a hurricane this weekend. The east coast made someone angry! Anyway, they are anticipating wide spread power outages on Sunday so there is a good chance I may not have power Monday. It's only supposed to be 82 high so the AC won't be an issue-I plan on staying open. I'll plan PBJ sandwiches. Am I crazy? Do you stay open without power?

[laundrymom]

I'm not allowed.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Will the parents go to work with no power? If so, maybe...if not, then no way.

[newtodaycare22]

Oh, I'm making it clear that they are only to bring kids if their work is open (most of federal gov. workers or school...so I'll know. ).

[laundrymom]

You know I am rethinking my answer. I would much rather be sited and stay open if possible if it means a rescue worker could do their jobs. Now, Sally Jo the manicurist can keep her kids home but Susie surgeon and Phil the fireman are welcome.

[meganlavonnesmommy]

We're just north of DC. I have a generator, so I will remain open. Our rules allow us to stay open with no power as long as the temperatures inside the home are not too hot or too cold for the kids.
Most of my families will be off work, and keep their kids home if it gets bad, but I will accept families if they need to go in, or need to go help with storm clean up.

Stay safe everyone on the east coast.

[momma2girls]

I actually had to change my contract about 2 yrs. because of this. We had an ice storm here, and all schools were cancelled here. I had one neighbor about 5 houses down- call me and tell me she will be here around 10:00, noramally comes at 7:30. It has been icing for about 2 hrs. now. I tell her do you know how icy it is out- she said well yeah it's the same here- DUHH??
I told her no, I mean outside, in the driveways- mine is pure ice. She said she was still coming- Ok, now I have to go out in my long driveway and deice my driveway and sidewalk just for her- It was fun, I fell three times, and gave it up, had to see the chiro for it as well. I was so mad!!
Then about 15 min. before she arrived, the electricity went out- it was out for 4 hrs.!!! It was about 60 degrees in here, when it finally went back on- THank GOd it did.
I called the Dad(which was at home sitting, he was laid off) saying that if the electricity didn't come on quickly, my husband would try to make it here, and we were doing to go stay with some friends that had heat. The Dad just said ok, call me if you decide!! I couldn't believe it!!
Now, I have it in my contract- In case of a power outage, I may have to close daycare if it is off any length of time.

[nannyde]

I actually had to change my contract about 2 yrs. because of this. We had an ice storm here, and all schools were cancelled here. I had one neighbor about 5 houses down- call me and tell me she will be here around 10:00, noramally comes at 7:30. It has been icing for about 2 hrs. now. I tell her do you know how icy it is out- she said well yeah it's the same here- DUHH??
I told her no, I mean outside, in the driveways- mine is pure ice. She said she was still coming- Ok, now I have to go out in my long driveway and deice my driveway and sidewalk just for her- It was fun, I fell three times, and gave it up, had to see the chiro for it as well. I was so mad!!
Then about 15 min. before she arrived, the electricity went out- it was out for 4 hrs.!!! It was about 60 degrees in here, when it finally went back on- THank GOd it did.
I called the Dad(which was at home sitting, he was laid off) saying that if the electricity didn't come on quickly, my husband would try to make it here, and we were doing to go stay with some friends that had heat. The Dad just said ok, call me if you decide!! I couldn't believe it!!
Now, I have it in my contract- In case of a power outage, I may have to close daycare if it is off any length of time.

I have had pretty similiar situations with ice and blizzards and have had to revamp my policies because of it. I had a parent fall on my front sidewalk on a day when the weather was so bad that EVERYTHING shut down. I couldn't keep up with the driveway or the front sidewalk.

Luckily the parent wasn't carrying her kid and she didn't harm herself but it was a huge wake up call for me. Before I had this happen my policy was "if you can get here... I'm open". After this happened I realized that it's not just about whether or not they can get to my driveway. It's about whether or not I can keep that driveway and sidewalk safe.

It's about whether or not I want a parent carrying a child on my icy sidewalks. It's not about whether the parent will sue me if they hurt themself or their kid here. They may be totally willing to take the risk of injury but their insurance company will want me to pay. The parent won't ultimately decide my liability. Whoever pays the bills will and that's most often NOT the parent.

It's MY responsibility to make sure I'm not drawing people onto my property when I can't keep up with it. I have to be able to say it's not safe.

THE PARENTS CAN'T GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO DO THE WRONG THING.

MOST parents won't risk their child out on the bad roads but I have always had at least one who just wants their kid in child care even if it's risking their lives to bring them to care.

The parent who fell on my property was NOT working that day. The other parent was also home and not working that day. This is the same family that wanted to bring their child on another blizzard day when every single one of my kids cancelled and neither of them had to go to work. They were willing to take their kid out in a blizzard knowing full well that I didn't have any other children coming and they were BOTH off that day.

I've learned that I have to build my policies for THAT parent. I have to say no to the one who will do anything to not have to pay for a day of child care and not have their kid here. I have to decide based on the one that will risk their kids life in order to avoid having them home even when they aren't working and there are two parents home to care for one kid.

Same deal as your deal.. so I get it.

[Crazy8]

our guidelines say you MUST have electricity in the house - so if the power is out I am closed. We are expected to get hit Sat. night into Sunday and I have no kids on Monday so I am just hoping all is back to normal by Tuesday morning!

[boysx5]

If we have no power I will not open

[VTMom]

For me, no power means no water for washing or toilets, therefore no daycare.

[skittles]

We are suppose to get hit here Sun into Monday. Our state law is if we have no power for more than 3 hours we have to close. Will let the families know asap.