FEMA Hires More Local Residents To Help Recovery Efforts
Release Date: November 9, 2000
Release Number: HQ-00-CG20
» New Hires - November 3, 2000
SANTA FE, N.M. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the appointment of two more local residents to work for 13 months with the Cerro Grande Fire Assistant Act Program, fulfilling a promise made by FEMA Director James Lee Witt two months ago.
"In addition to the staff we've hired for the Los Alamos, Santa Clara Pueblo and San Ildefonso Pueblo Service Centers, we have been fortunate enough to recruit two more outstanding people to help us in the White Rock and Española centers," said Donald Erbach, Director of the program. "These individuals bring a special knowledge and community involvement to our efforts that will be invaluable in helping people whose lives were impacted by the fire.
"We look to these staff to be particularly effective helping people in those areas who suffered losses because of the fire but have not yet applied for compensation," Erbach added.
The new staff includes:
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Melissa McConnell, of Santa Fe. Melissa came to Santa Fe last summer on a vacation and decided to stay. The Texas native had spent time in Santa Fe in the early 90s, taking advanced training in massage therapy, but this time she decided to put down roots in what she calls, "my favorite place in the U.S."
Once in Santa Fe, she read about a job with the Cerro Grande Fire Office and applied. Today she's the manager of the White Rock Center, helping fire survivors who come in for assistance.
A resident of Denton, Texas for 23 years, Melissa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of North Texas in Denton. She then worked for FEMA as a trainer in the agency's National Processing Service Center. Although she was intimately familiar with FEMA policies, she admits Cerro Grande presents a new set of challenges.
"I'm learning a lot of new policies and programs specific to the Cerro Grande fire," Melissa said. "But this job is great, the people are really nice, and I'm looking forward to helping everyone who comes in for assistance."
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Lydia Armijo, of Española. The newest customer service representative at Espanola's Service Center knows the town and its people quite well. Lydia moved there at the age of three and has lived there ever since.
Her parents run a meat packing business in town. Lydia attended school there and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management and Computer Design from the College of Santa Fe. She held several administrative positions with various state agencies before going to work for Johnson Controls of Northern New Mexico at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
She was managing the Johnson Controls business park in Española last spring when the Cerro Grande Fire Information Center moved into the building. Lydia worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during that time, which led to her current spot with the agency.
"I really enjoy working with local people," Lydia said. "I think it helps them to see someone local when they come to the Center."
Lydia is bi-lingual, and many of the folks coming to the Center rely on her Spanish.
"I enjoy helping the program work for people," she added. "It is very rewarding work."
Last Modified: Tuesday, 30-Dec-2003 16:54:06