IVR Deconstructed

Storms have hit all over the country and literally pounded the Northeast this winter. Some of the culprits? The usual suspects (according to the Weather Channel)…

Ice storms. Ice storms are freezing rain of a least a quarter inch or more. Freezing rain is rain that turns to ice when it hits freezing temperatures on the ground or things close to the ground (your car).

Sleet. Sleet is…the definition of sleet is a little confused. It can be snow that melts as it falls or small pellets of hail (small, not the golf ball-sized chunks that chip your car windshield). Or, if you live in Canada, sleet doesn’t grace your meteorological vocabulary—you say wintery mix.

Lake effect. If you live in the Great Lakes region, you know all about lake effect. Cold air moves over a warmer lake, clouds gather and snow starts falling.

Nor’easters. Some of the nastiest of winter’s storms, they’re boosted by strong northeasterly winds from off the Atlantic. They come with heavy rain or snow and huge tides and hurricane-force winds that wreak havoc along the coast. Fun.

Blizzards. (Let’s hope not.) Blizzards are powerful storms that usually form when the jet stream heads south with cold air and smacks into the warm air there. They usually have cold temperatures (below 20 degrees Fahrenheit) and strong winds (35 mph or more). Severe blizzards dip below 10 degrees and throw in 45 mph-plus winds, just for trips and giggles.

Whether you live in the southern part of the country with ice storms or around the Great Lakes with lake effect storms or in the Northeast with the North Atlantic wind blowing in your face, winter can be a trial. No one wants to go out in that weather. But we have to. There’s work and school to consider.

Or is there? If you’re a company and want to give your employees a break, set up an IVR system to let them know you closed the office. If you’re a school, use IVR technology to let students and parents know you canceled classes (snow day!). Save everybody a trip.

Right now, a huge storm is moving in over the Plains and Great Lakes. It’s supposed to keep going to the Northeast. Well, maybe the kids are happy about it, at least. Bundle up, folks.