The 2010 winter season has produced historic amounts of precipitation across many areas of the United States.  As rising temperatures accelerate the snow-melting process, areas around many parts of our country already have experienced or will soon experience severe flooding that will negatively impact our Federal workforce and their families.

On March 14, 2010, President Barack Obama declared that an emergency exists in the State of North Dakota and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local response efforts in the area threatened by flooding beginning on February 26, 2010, and continuing.  Other areas near the Red River and around the nation may be impacted soon by similar flood conditions.  The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is concerned about the health and safety of individuals whose lives may be affected.

To support our Federal employees and their families, OPM reminds agencies of the various Human Resources (HR) flexibilities currently available to them.  OPM’s Handbook on Pay and Leave Benefits for Federal Employees Affected by Severe Weather Conditions or Other Emergency Situations provides a general summary of the pay and leave benefits available to Federal employees prevented from working, or required to work, in an area affected by emergency situations.  The Handbook is available at http://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/2008/HandbookForEmergencies(PayAndLeave).pdf

Additional Information

For additional information, agency Chief Human Capital Officers and/or Human Resources Directors should contact their assigned OPM Human Capital Officer. Employees should contact their agency human resources offices for assistance.

The White House press release is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-signs-north-dakota-emergency-declaration.

cc:        Human Resources Directors