Return to Home PageSeptember 8, 2005
It has now been ten days since Hurricane Katrina made landfall and I wanted to give you an update on our efforts to contact EEOC employees and assist them. We are very grateful that we have now heard from all but three of our New Orleans staff. Those we have heard from are safe and are located throughout the country; some are still trying to re-connect with family members. Our thoughts are with all of our affected New Orleans and Jackson employees, most especially with those who we have not yet heard from and those who have unaccounted for family members.
Our first priority was to determine the status of our New Orleans employees. The next thing was to look after their needs. We are regularly placing updated information for them on EEOCs public website. We have taken steps to provide our NODO employees with financial and housing assistance and the means to communicate with us. Most of all we have tried to reach out to them and let them know that there is an EEOC family that cares about them and will do whatever we can to support them through this difficult ordeal.
In working though all of these issues I must commend the extraordinary efforts of New Orleans Acting Director, Keith Hill and New Orleans Administrative Officer, Zaida Monconduit. They are working out of the Atlanta Office and notwithstanding their personal situations, have worked tirelessly to communicate and reassure their staff and coordinate with headquarters. I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the efforts of the dedicated task force at headquarters that has been working literally around the clock to address the needs of our employees and the many operational issues arising from the displacement of our employees and the closure of the NODO.
The New Orleans office remains closed and will be for some time, although we are already working on relocation with GSA. As I reported last week, the Jackson office is open, but is still functioning with communication limitations.
You have already received an e-mail for those of you who have asked about and are interested in assisting with housing for our employees. In addition, while my last message identified some of the organizations that are collecting donations, a number of you have asked how you can help EEOC employees directly. Another e-mail will be sent to you shortly advising how you can assist in addressing the short and long term needs of your colleagues. EEOC employees have always been exceedingly generous and I know that you will be as well in responding to these appeals.
This page was last modified on September 8, 2005.