IID begins shelter-in-place program

Imperial Irrigation District (IID) has announced that they have begun a voluntary on-site shelter-in-place program at facilities crucial to maintaining its water and energy operations.

Thirty-two employees have volunteered for the on-site sequestration program, which started this past weekend and will last for a minimum of three weeks.

“As the district continues to implement its Pandemic Response Plan, to keep our workers who are responsible for critical operations safe from COVID-19 and to ensure that our systems remain operational, we have determined that certain steps need to be taken,” said Henry Martinez, IID general manager. “This will mitigate employee’s exposure and assist in ensuring the continuity of service to all of our customers.”

The emergency measure recognizes the importance of the district’s employees in implementing the district’s mission, the importance of continuing the delivery of critical utilities to customers and the importance of maintaining a safe workplace for critical district employees, Martinez added.

The voluntary employees who have the skills and qualifications to perform the work required will work 12-hour shifts, remaining at the designated worksites 24 hours a day for the duration of the program.

“I want to personally acknowledge and thank these employees for going the extra mile, even when faced with challenging times at home and in the workplace,” Martinez added. “Our customers depend on us, now more than ever, so we’re working to continue to deliver for them.”

IID has said that the program could be extended, depending on the operational needs of the district and the conditions related to the virus.