CMS, SSA evacuating Baltimore offices

The Baltimore offices of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be closing early today. Social Security Administration also will be evacuating its ...

Updated at 2:15 p.m. with information about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to send its employees home at 1 p.m.

The Baltimore offices of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be closing early today. The Social Security Administration also will be evacuating its Baltimore headquarters.

CMS made the decision “out of an abundance of caution for the safety” of its employees based on reports from local law enforcement, according to a release.

The agency is requiring all of employees to leave the campus. To facilitate an orderly departure, employees will be released on the following schedule:

  • All outlying buildings ( 7111, Ambassador Road, Windsor, Lord Baltimore) – 12 p.m.
  • South Building – 12 p.m.
  • Central Building 12:20 p.m.
  • North Building – 12:40 p.m.

“Those employees who wish to leave before the scheduled departure time, should speak with their managers about alternative arrangements (e.g., telework, leave),”the release said. “Similarly, employees with time-sensitive assignments should speak with their managers regarding arrangements for completion of that work from home after the early dismissal.”

CMS employees already working at home are expected to complete their entire shift from their Alternative Duty Station (ADS). As an alternative, they can take unscheduled leave.

“All other employees leaving the facility will be granted administrative leave for the remainder of their tour, except in the instances where time sensitive work must be completed from home,” the report said.

In making its decision, SSA noted in a release that there was no immediate threat, but that it was “being cautious”.

SSA employees are also being released on a staged evacuation plan:

  1. Woodlawn Office Complex & Childcare Center – 10:30 a.m. (parent with children in the childcare center are also to leave at this time)
  2. Security West & NCC – 11 a.m.
  3. Wabash – 11 a.m.
  4. West & East Buildings – 11:30 a.m.
  5. Annex & Ball/Operations – 12 p.m.

Baltimore is currently under a state of emergency due to riots that broke out following the funeral of Freddie Gray, the young black man who died while in police custody.

The Baltimore District of the Army Corps of Engineers released its employees released at 1 p.m.

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