From: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 10:18 AM
Subject: Hurricane Maria and California Wildfires Update
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2017 10:18 AM
Subject: Hurricane Maria and California Wildfires Update
A
Message to All SSA Employees
Subject: Hurricane
Maria and California Wildfires Update
Last Sunday, October 8, wildfires started in the Napa and
Sonoma counties of California, quickly spreading to surrounding counties due to
high winds. Firefighters battled 17 separate and active wildfires.
At last count, these wildfires burned more than 221,000 acres and destroyed
more than 3,500 homes and businesses, affecting thousands of individuals.
Thankfully, all of the region’s employees are safe and
accounted for. Twenty-six employees are under mandatory evacuation and
the fires destroyed one employee’s home. Currently, two offices in the
Napa and Sonoma areas remain closed; the fires have directly affected three
other offices, resulting in short-term or intermittent closures. There
have been no reports of damage to any of the field offices in the impacted
area. This is a very fluid situation. Please keep our colleagues in
your prayers.
In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, some improvements
have occurred. Power continues to fluctuate, with 17 percent of the
population now with power. We opened the San Juan, San Patricio, and
Caguas field offices to employees yesterday, for limited hours. We
anticipate opening these offices to the public today.
We also opened the Mayaguez and San Juan hearing offices
to employees as well yesterday. We are working to begin rescheduling
hearings in those offices.
A special thanks to personnel from the New York Regional
office and the Office of the Inspector General, who are on site and have been
helping employees in recovery efforts.
I will continue to keep you updated on the status of our
employees and offices affected by these natural disasters as we try to restore
our services to help those in need.
Nancy
A. Berryhill
Acting Commissioner
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