MOVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER OR HYDROLOGIC EVENT
When you choose a moving day, you can’t always predict the weather beforehand – and almost never can you predict a natural disaster. Yet, it is something you must consider when thinking about moving.
While we hope for sunny skies, we must be prepared for every possible condition. In the event of inclement weather, Georgetown Moving and Storage Company reserves the right to postpone our services. These are in the cases of extreme inclement weather or a hydrologic event issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
What Defines Inclement Weather?
Inclement weather is any harsh, severe weather that poses a safety risk and inhibits actions such as driving. Inclement weather is issued by the National Weather Service, which is a faction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and we follow their recommendations to ensure the safety of our employees and our customers.
The National Weather Service can issue any of the following alerts:
- WARNING – A warning means hazardous weather or a hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a high probability of occurring. When a warning is issued, it means meteorologists are urging citizens to be aware of the approaching weather and take precaution to stay safe of imminent danger.
- WATCH – A watch means the risk of inclement weather is on the rise, but it’s occurrence, location, or timing has not yet been identified. When a watch is issued, it means meteorologists have noticed that conditions are favorable for inclement weather patterns, and citizens should keep checking for weather updates.
- EMERGENCY – An emergency is issued after a storm does severe damage to a city, county, or town.
All three alerts are to be taken seriously by the National Weather Service – and when these alerts are issued, we reserve the right to postpone our moving or storage services to an alternative time.
Inclement Weather in Washington, DC
When you think of weather alerts, thoughts of tornados, hurricanes, and severe thunderstorms likely come to mind. However, weather warnings and watches are for more than just your typical hurricane – type weather. Inclement weather can be any type of potentially hazardous weather event, including but not limited to:
- Severe thunderstorms
- Wintry mix
- Black ice
- Heavy rain and flooding
- Freezing rain
- Extreme temperatures
In Washington, DC and the surrounding areas, it would not be uncommon to receive a weather alert for winter weather – including ice, snow, freezing rain, or sleet – that presents a hazard, but does not meet warning level criteria.
When it’s time to move, make sure you stay updated on inclement weather alerts – and understand that, in an effort to stay safe, our team can postpone your move or storage service if unpredictable inclement weather comes your way.
Georgetown Moving and Storage Company Encourages Moving Safety!
At Georgetown Moving and Storage Company, we take the advice and alerts from The National Weather Service very seriously. Employee safety and customer safety is of utmost importance to us – we want you to have the safest move possible!
If you are looking for inclement weather updates or updates on hydrologic events in the DC, MD, or Northern VA area, check the Nation Weather Service online.
If you have any questions about our policy on inclement weather, give us a call at (703) 889-8899!