Hurricane victims excused from work with pay

Federal employees adversely affected by Hurricane Isabel can be excused from work with pay, the Office of Personnel Management has announced.

"We must do what we can to ensure the safety of federal employees and their families and the integrity of the federal government," OPM Director Kay Coles James said in a Friday memo to agency and department heads.

Washington-area agencies closed Sept. 18 after reports that the hurricane was headed to the area and stayed closed Sept. 19 after Isabel hit. The storm caused power outages in more than 1 million homes and businesses, forcing schools to close and prompting local officials to set up food distribution sites to help people affected by the storm. As of Monday, more than 300,000 Washington-area homes and businesses were still without power. The storm also resulted in widespread flooding.

James told agency heads to "excuse from duty without charge to leave or loss of pay" employees affected by the storm who can be spared from their usual responsibilities. James specifically asked that employees called to help with emergency law enforcement, relief or cleanup efforts be granted excused absences, as well as employees who can't report to work because of storm-related issues. James reminded agencies that limits on biweekly premium pay could be waived for employees involved in cleanup efforts.

"I encourage you to exercise this authority in the event any employee performs emergency overtime work in connection with Hurricane Isabel and its aftermath," James wrote.

Agencies interested in setting up emergency leave transfer programs through which employees can donate unused leave to help colleagues affected by the hurricane should contact their agency's chief human capital officer, James advised. Survivors can use the donated leave when the free time off agencies allot them runs out.

On Friday, the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), a charity that helps federal workers and their families in need, announced the creation of the Hurricane Isabel Fund.

To apply for assistance employees should go to FEEA's Web site or contact FEEA at 800-323-4140 or 303-933-7580 for information. Donations to the fund donations can be made by credit card on FEEA's Web site or checks can be sent to:

FEEA HURRICANE ISABEL FUND
8441 W. Bowles Avenue
Suite 200
Littleton, Colo. 80123-9501