Hurricane Sandy Update

This website provides information on Federal human resources (HR) benefits and flexibilities useful to Federal employees, annuitants, survivors, and agencies affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Agency Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs) are regularly communicating the impact of Hurricane Sandy on their agencies. CHCOs and OPM will continue to address HR–related questions and hardships our Federal community is experiencing as a result of this natural disaster.

During the aftermath of the hurricane, OPM will use this website and social networks to relay new HR information, and we will remind you about HR benefits and flexibilities which are already available.

November 6, 2012

• All financial institutions received OPM's November 1st annuity payments.
• The Treasury Department confirmed that there were no disruptions in electronic fund transfer (EFT) payments caused by Hurricane Sandy. All funds have been successfully deposited into our annuitants' accounts.
• If you reside in one of the affected areas and have trouble receiving a hard copy of your annuity check in the mail, you need to contact the retirement services emergency hotline number below to:
  1. Change from a hard copy check to Direct Deposit/EFT, or
  2. Change the payment address to another address.
• The United States Postal Service (USPS) continues to monitor the effects of Hurricane Sandy and is currently in a recovery phase. As the impacts become known, USPS will keep annuitants who receive hard copy checks advised with updates on the Mail Service Updates site.
• Retirement services Hurricane Sandy emergency hotline: 1-888-472-2967

November 2, 2012

• Special Solicitation for Victims of Hurricane Sandy

October 25, 2012

• Hurricane Sandy and Its Aftermath

In the event of a major disaster or emergency that results in severe adverse affects for a substantial number of employees, the President may direct the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish an emergency leave transfer program. Under the ELTP, Federal employees in the executive or judicial branches, or an agency leave bank, may donate annual leave for transfer to employees who are adversely affected, or have family members who are adversely affected, by the disaster or emergency. This program, which is administered at the agency level, provides Federal employees with a special opportunity to help their fellow workers in times of need.

Benefits

• Handbook on Pay and Leave Benefits for Federal Employees Affected by Severe Weather Conditions or Other Emergency Situations
• Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
• Filing a Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Claim
• Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
• Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)

Policies

The Snow & Dismissal Procedures provide information on emergency employees, leave, and telework which is useful to Federal employees affected by the hurricane.

The Handbook on Pay and Leave Benefits for Federal Employees Affected by Severe Weather Conditions or Other Emergency Situations, includes guidance on available pay and leave benefits, including evacuation payments.

Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Department of Homeland Security
• FEMA
• National Archives
• Ready.gov
• Thrift Savings Plan
• USA.gov
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• U.S. General Services Administration
• U.S. Postal Service