 When FEMA responds to disasters, we focus on treating survivors with compassion, fairness, integrity and respect. We are celebrating Native American Heritage Month by honoring our employees who, every day, demonstrate these values.
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In commemoration of National Native American Heritage Month and to broaden our understanding and knowledge, please join FEMA’s Tribal Affairs Employee Resource Group, in collaboration with the Office of Equal Rights, for a virtual event from 1 to 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 18.
This year’s event includes opening remarks by Administrator Deanne Criswell, a video message from Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids and a history of Bears Ears National Monument by Angelo Baca.
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FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. This is a mission that may extend past our job duties and beyond our roles as emergency managers.
Hundreds of FEMA employees are alumni of public and community service programs. Many of us have served thousands of hours for organizations such as AmeriCorps and Peace Corps.
For External Affairs Public Affairs Specialist Wes Lagenour — and for many others at FEMA — service continues to be a close, personal conviction that they carry every day.
Sharing a passion for community and public service inspired a group of employees to create FEMA’s National Service Alumni FEMA Employee Resource Group (NSA FERG).
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 This week, FEMA Weekly debuts a new article series: “FEMA Fundamentals.” Each article will present an overview of one of the agency’s myriad programs and the services it provides. By gaining a greater insight into the offices and directorates across the agency, we can all better understand how the agency works — and how each one of us supports FEMA’s mission to help people before, during and after disasters.
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAO) strives to promote an engaged and ready workforce, bringing together our fellow components to operate as one Mission Support.
Through their duties and efforts, OCAO staff are protecting, housing and equipping the FEMA workforce.
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 Each month, FEMA Weekly highlights employees who have achieved a workplace anniversary of 35 years or more. We are grateful for their experience and dedication. Their experience, expertise and dedication to civil service are vital to FEMA’s success in helping people before, during and after disasters.
This month, we celebrate the following employees:
45 years of service:
- Sheilah Olds, Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
35 years of service:
- Marlena Valdivia, Region 7.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone!
Since many employees experienced technical issues uploading their proof of COVID-19 vaccination, DHS will soon be sending emails with individualized QR codes to employees who have not completed their attestation to the Vaccine Status System (VSS).
These codes will allow employees to submit their vaccination documentation (such as a COVIDi-19 vaccination card, medical records documenting vaccination or immunization records from a health care provider) from any smart phone, tablet or computer capable of reading QR codes. This submission can be made with personal, non-FEMA devices.
These emails are NOT spam; please review them and take prompt action.
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OneDrive has been configured for all personal network file storage (i.e., home drives) as FEMA shifts to a cloud-based solution.
FEMA employees will no longer have access to their home drives (also known as the \M: drive) after Jan. 31, 2022; all data that currently resides on the personal home drives will be deleted after that date. Each FEMA employee is responsible for migrating their home drive files to OneDrive on/before Jan. 31.
The ability to save files to home drives will be disabled on Jan. 1, 2022, but FEMA employees should begin saving to their OneDrive before then.
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Employees may retain (carry over to the next leave year) a maximum amount of accrued annual leave, for most employees the maximum is 240 hours. Employees must “use” the annual leave in excess of their maximum amount by the end of the leave year or they will “lose” (forfeit) it.
Any accrued annual leave in excess of the maximum amount will be forfeited if not used by the last day of Pay Period 26, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022.
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The emotional, physical and social interactions a child receives within the first 1,000 days of life, directly impacts who they will become as adults.
Children are the future of our community, nation and world. It is every family’s and community’s responsibility to ensure our children have the best chance to succeed. You can help provide stability to those in need.
Did you know that:
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$50 Sponsors a child's participation in a summer leadership camp.
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$150 Wraps warm, cozy blankets around 30 children displaced by conflict.
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$150 Trains 10 pediatricians to identify the signs of child abuse and trauma.
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Don’t forget to take the FEVS! Earlier this month, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent invitations to randomly selected employees across FEMA to participate in the Federal Viewpoint Survey. The survey went out to approximately a third of our FEMA workforce.
This confidential survey will be open until Friday, Dec. 10, 2021.
Reservists: check your FEMA email account via your FEMA-issued iPhone or laptop for the FEVS. FEMA will compensate eligible non-deployed reservists for up to 30-minutes of their time to complete the survey.
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FEMA Weekly will not be published on the following dates:
If you have content you would like to share in the Weekly, please be sure to plan according to this schedule.
Questions? Send an email to fema-employee-communications@fema.dhs.gov.
I have a friend who is interested in becoming a FEMA Reservist, where should I direct them to apply?
If you know a potential candidate, refer them using the FEMA Reservist Referral Bonus Program!
If the person you refer onboards successfully and is employed for at least 90 days as a member of the Reservist Program, you may receive a $100 bonus.
FEMA’s Reservist Referral Bonus Program provides an opportunity for eligible employees to receive a monetary bonus by helping the agency find quality talent. Referral bonuses will be paid in one lump sum payment.
To use the incentive program, eligible current employees must complete and send the required documents to FEMA-HC-ServiceDesk@fema.dhs.gov before the candidate can be considered for employment.
Note: Referrals cannot be processed for an applicant already being considered for employment.
For additional information visit the Reservist Referral Incentive Program page.
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