SUS Is Always Prepared
written by Minjung Park, SUS Grants Manager
I’m sure many of us took “snow days,” worked from home, or left work early to avoid the messes of the recent blizzards this winter. I saw a news piece that talked about how much easier it is to work from home now and how employees at many companies are doing that more and more.
For many of the 1,600 SUS staff, that was not a possibility or even a thought – even though they may have their own children who they need to take care of now that they have a snow day.
From the beginning of the winter season, SUS managers have been meeting to discuss Emergency Procedures for inclement weather. But before every actual blizzard, staff meet again to confirm plans – and walking out of their meeting, people are on their phones to ensure there is coverage at all of our programs.
What would happen to the 600 seniors who need someone to help them get out of bed, cleaned and dressed, and cook breakfast? Or the eight young men with developmental disabilities at one of our 26 developmental disabilities residences, who need supervision and help to plan out their day now that they don’t have school? Or to make sure that the homeless and possibly mentally ill individual who is ready to get off the streets has a clean and safe place, at one of our 17 mental health residences, to lay his head?
These snow storms (really any emergency), disrupt our everyday lives – but we don’t, and can’t, shut down. Snow, transit strikes, electrical outages, etc. will not stop SUS from providing much needed care to thousands of New Yorkers. And from keeping our staff, SUS’ everyday heroes, from doing their job.
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This is a great reminder of the staff’s dedication at SUS to their consumers! Kudos to all the men and women at SUS that make those days that seem difficult and impossible possible!!