My Wal Mart readies for storm season.. Read on :)

[Josephine96]

Tax Free Hurricane Supplies officially begin at Midnight across Florida. The tax free era goes through June 12th.

I also bring this up because tomorrow during my store's AM and PM meetings at Wal Mart.. I'll be discussing Wal Mart's "Code BLACK" procedure..

For any curious ears out there.. our "Code BLACK" is when we have a tornado warning.. or a tornado nearing the property.. {we had a tornado touchdown RIGHT ON OUR property last year during Hurricane Charley}

Our Code BLACK is also used for hurricanes. We calmly assemble everyone in the building to the center of the store.. We then are instructed to be calm so that we don't scare customers, or other associates {that's kinda obvious lol}

I also was told in the Risk Control Meeting today.. there is a chance {small I'm sure} that the store MAY NOT EVEN CLOSE in the event of a hurricane threat. That means the possibility is there.. that in the event of the storm.. I could be stuck at work!

BTW.. I should also mention.. along with being 2881's "Official Storm Tracker".. I also have been nicknamed "Skywatcher Johnny" by the Csm's lol because everytime there is even a possibility of severe storms.. I watch the skies carefully.

[LaPlaceFF]

I also was told in the Risk Control Meeting today.. there is a chance {small I'm sure} that the store MAY NOT EVEN CLOSE in the event of a hurricane threat. That means the possibility is there.. that in the event of the storm.. I could be stuck at work!

That don't surprise me one bit.

[mobilebay]

I also was told in the Risk Control Meeting today.. there is a chance {small I'm sure} that the store MAY NOT EVEN CLOSE in the event of a hurricane threat. That means the possibility is there.. that in the event of the storm.. I could be stuck at work!

That don't surprise me one bit.

Me neither. The almighty dollar is all that counts to these huge companies!

[Josephine96]

The only way I'd wanna be stuck there.. is if they pay me and whoever else stays.. lots and lots of overtime.. Otherwise.. forget it.. I wanna go home lol

[mobilebay]

You should not be forced to make that decision. The only people that should be working during a Major Hurricane are Medical personnel, and Emergency Personnel. Period.

[Skywatch_NC]

That's just INsane, John, about staying there at the store during a 'cane!

Eric

[drudd1]

Hmmm, Wal Mart should rethink that strategy. They are by no means capable of being a shelter, the buildings are not built that well. I ran this by my brother, who is a cop here, and he thought I was joking. When the order is given to get off the roads, that means everybody, and the last thing they want is a Super Wal Mart generating traffic with last minute panic shoppers. I would be curious to know how they plan on staffing the store in a situation like that. If they make it mandatory for individuals to work it, and folks get hurt, I could envision them being in some very hot water after the storm passes.

[BocaGirl]

I also was told in the Risk Control Meeting today.. there is a chance {small I'm sure} that the store MAY NOT EVEN CLOSE in the event of a hurricane threat. That means the possibility is there.. that in the event of the storm.. I could be stuck at work!

John,

Is it okay with WalMart for you to be sharing its company policy with Storm2K? I am asking because the company policy in my office states that internal procedures need to stay internal. Since you have no way of knowing how many people read this board or where your words might wind up, it might be a good idea to err on the side of caution until you find out.

Seriously. In this day and age, lots of companies, espacially big ones like WalMart and the one for which I work, are really strict about what information is given to the the general public. Even simple stuff, like the information you get in a Risk Management meeting, might not be be supposed to shared with outsiders.

I'd hate to see you get in trouble - or worse - over an innocent post with your Storm2k friends.

Just something to consider.

BocaGirl
Barbara

[Josephine96]

Did some double checking lol..

The only people who are ever really "required" to stay at the store.. is management.. They do close the store and no regular 9-5 employees are usually there.. {unless asked voluntarily}

They had a couple managers stay last year during Hurricane Charley.. that's why I brought it up

[LaPlaceFF]

Did some double checking lol..

The only people who are ever really "required" to stay at the store.. is management.. They do close the store and no regular 9-5 employees are usually there.. {unless asked voluntarily}

They had a couple managers stay last year during Hurricane Charley.. that's why I brought it up

When Lili came here, I was left behind here cause I had to stay at the store. My wife went to Alabama. My manager would not close the store until it was almost too late. I stayed up all night running fire calls that night.

[Josephine96]

Sounds about what would happen here LA..

If I understand correctly.. Our store last year didn't "close" until almost 2 hours after that feeder band that spawned the tornado that actually touched down and did some nice damage to our building.

By then.. There was only skeleton crew anyway because everybody had left.. I think that only management is asked to stay behind.. not the hourly associates.. I'm not exactly in the mood to find out lol..

[T'Bonz]

Stores are like that. :/ My daughter worked at a Party City or Party Supermarket (I forget which now.)

As the hurricane approached last year (Jeanne), they told us to get off the the roads. Her boss wanted her to work until 4 pm., they had told us on TV to be inside by 1 o'clock.

I pulled her from work (she's a teen). The manager was a bit snotty, but I told her that when my husband, who works a professional job is home because his entire company closed down, I'm not sending my teen to work selling party supplies for chump change. Furthermore, we were evacuating. (We didn't go far, just to my brother's apartment, but she didn't know that. )

It was ridiculous that retail places, selling nonessential stuff, thought they should stay open.

She didn't get in trouble for this nor did we get the full brunt of Jeanne, but I wasn't taking any chance.