OPM MOBILIZES VOLUNTEERS TO AID IN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS

Washington, D. C. -- Office of Personnel Management employees responded quickly to the call to provide relief for the victims of the January 18 Los Angeles area earthquake. A total of 133 OPM employees have now been trained and dispatched to begin the process of helping those in need.

When the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) contacted OPM on January 19 to request assistance in handling the deluge of phone calls from the earthquake victims, employees at OPM's Office of Washington Federal Investigative Services were mobilized. By noon January 21, the first of 107 employees (mostly investigators) had been trained and were registering victims for the government's disaster relief programs. Information was collected via toll-free phone lines linking California to FEMA's Virginia facility, one of eight locations set up for the disaster. Employees will continue to staff various FEMA Disaster Assistance Centers (DAC) as long as necessary.

Similarly, OPM staff in the Los Angeles Service Center and in the Federal Investigations Division provided 26 volunteers for FEMA DACs established after the quake. Working together with the Greater Los Angeles Area Federal Executive Board, OPM staff notified 39 agencies of the need for help. Approximately 800 federal employees and 700 state employees attended a FEMA training session on January 22. Another training session on January 23 drew 300 federal employees. DAC assignments to various locations were made following the training.

OPM Director Jim King had earlier notified the heads of executive departments and agencies of President Clinton's decision authorizing time-off for federal civilian employees participating in relief efforts or facing personal emergencies. Those employees would not be charged leave or lose pay.

"At a time when so many are in need, I am heartened to know that federal employees, particular our own at OPM gave willingly of their time and skills," said Jim King. Again and again the federal community proves its generosity through caring and giving to others. We all hope for a speedy healing to everyone involved in this terrible tragedy."

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Web page created 2 December 1997