New York City - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) conducted the fifth in a series of emergency preparedness seminars to local agency representatives through the Federal Executive Board in New York City. The session provided information on emergency planning and human resource flexibilities available to agencies for use in emergency situations and during major public events, such as the national political conventions scheduled for this summer in Boston and New York.

OPM Director Kay Coles James addressing the need for the series of seminars said, "It is vitally important that all Federal agencies be prepared as a team for emergencies natural or man-made. OPM has the responsibility to ensure that Federal workers are armed with the knowledge of how to deal with these situations. The upcoming conventions in Boston and New York are key reasons OPM has taken these seminars on the road."

With a majority of the seminar attendees being Federal managers, Scott Hatch, OPM Communications Director, said at the seminar "As managers, you are, first and foremost, responsible for the safety of your Federal employees. There is no higher priority than protecting the employees in your charge." Hatch added, "In addition to protecting the workforce, you must ensure your ability to continue operating under any condition. The key to securing the government's ability to carry out basic agency functions during any event is advance planning and preparation."

Over 100 people representing 34 agencies and sub-agenciesattending the seminar (see list below) also heard from Brad Mason, Senior Emergency Program Specialist Terrorism

and Continuity of Operations, Federal Emergency Management Agency, on preparations being made for the Republican National Convention and coordination underway between Federal, State and City officials.

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Additionally, participants were made aware of the need to make telework a part of their continuity of operations planning and were urged to consider a full range of possibilities about how and where their work is accomplished through the use of alternative worksites such as telecenters and employees' homes.

The Federal government may, in extreme conditions, close all or some of its agencies as a result of disruptive events (i.e. weather, protests, large-scale public events, terrorism) that prevent employees from physically reaching their official duty stations.

An additional seminar is planned for Washington, DC on June 11.

A list of attending agencies in the New York Seminar follows

Administration for Children and Families (Health and Human Services)

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Office of Asst. Sec. of Administration and Management (Environmental Protection Agency)

Internal Revenue Service

National Archives and Records Administration

Bureau of the Census, Smithsonian Institution

Department of Health and Human Services

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (Department of Homeland Security)

Veterans Benefits Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs)

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (Department of Defense)

Federal Trade Commission

Social Security Administration

National Park Service (Department of Interior)

Office of Inspector General for Tax Admin (Department of Justice)

Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Department of Homeland Security)

Federal Trade Commission

Federal Maritime Commission (Department of Transportation)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce)

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Department of Justice

Federal Communications Commission

United States Postal Service

Bureau of Industry and Security (Department of Commerce)

Department of State

U.S. Park Police (Department of Interior)

Transportation Security Administration (Department of Homeland Security)

Department of Education

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Drug Enforcement Agency (Department of Justice)

Department of Commerce

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Department of Transportation

Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. District Court (Department of Justice)