We rarely cancel or delay the start of the day, but if that happens, we will send an email as soon as possible to inform registered volunteers of any changes. To check to see if there is a cancellation or delay, please call the Habitat Weather Hotline at 515-373-1866.

The safety of our volunteers and staff is our top priority. In order to keep you safe on site all year round, we have implemented procedures for extreme heat, extreme cold, and other inclement weather scenarios. We recognize that weather conditions affect different people in different ways, so we always encourage you to use your discretion to determine when your workday ends. If you have questions about our weather procedures, please contact our team at volunteer@gdmhabitat.org or 515-318-7074.

Procedures for Extreme Heat

  • Depending on the severity of the heat, our team has a number of tools and accommodations they can implement, such as:
    • Adding fans to the worksite to provide cooling
    • Taking additional breaks to prevent overheating
    • Providing additional water to ensure hydration
    • Re-routing volunteers to a different site that may have more shade or air conditioning
  • If the heat is truly extreme – over a heat index of 103° F according to the National Weather Service – we will either re-route you to an air-conditioned site or end your shift at 1 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. We will communicate with you about any changes due to extreme weather the evening before your shift.
  • All volunteers are encouraged to use their discretion to determine when their workday ends in extreme heat.

Procedures for Extreme Cold

  • Depending on the severity of the cold, our team has a number of tools and accommodations they can implement, such as:
    • Adding propane heaters to the worksite to provide additional warmth
    • Taking additional breaks to allow volunteers to warm themselves
    • Re-routing volunteers to a different site that may be more enclosed or may be heated
  • If the cold is truly extreme – under 10° F or if the windchill is below 0° F according to the National Weather Service, we will either re-route you to an enclosed site or cancel your shift if one is not available. We will communicate with you about any changes due to extreme cold by 7:00 a.m. the day of your shift.
  • If our team determines that road conditions are unsafe for travel, we will cancel your shift and communicate with you by 7:00 a.m. the day of your shift.
  • All volunteers are encouraged to use their discretion to determine when their workday ends in extreme cold and whether it’s safe for them to travel during inclement weather.

Procedures for Other Inclement Weather

  • After any visible lightning strike, volunteers and staff on-site will cease work for at least 30 minutes.
  • If winds register above 30 mph according to the National Weather Service, we will stop all work involving ladders or high spaces.
  • Our team has other procedures regarding infrequent extreme weather scenarios. Your construction manager will direct you if/when these situations arise. Your safety is always our top priority.