Read the official Peace Corps Press Release here:

http://peacecorps.gov/news/news/view.cfm?news_id=582

Peace Corps Headquarters Open; All Volunteers are Being Contacted

Washington, D.C. (Sept. 12, 2001) -- Today the Peace Corps headquarters office is open for business. Because of heightened security resulting from the terrorist events yesterday in New York City and Washington, D.C., the Peace Corps headquarters office was closed yesterday for all but emergency-related business. A core Peace Corps staff was assembled yesterday morning and has remained on duty to handle all essential functions. This core staff has addressed the immediate needs and decision-making affecting Volunteers worldwide.

All staff members in the New York regional recruitment office have been contacted, and all are safe.

Country Directors have been asked to contact all Volunteers and inform them of the recent events. Volunteers are being advised to be particularly prudent in their daily activities. There are no immediate plans to move Volunteers or to disrupt project activities currently underway.

The Peace Corps has delayed some of the upcoming staging (pre-departure orientation) events scheduled between September 11 and September 16. All invitees will be contacted directly by a staging staff member in the next few days to confirm new staging dates.

News on our Web site will be updated daily. Our toll-free telephone number, (800) 424-8580, is staffed to handle inquiries. After 5:00 p.m. EST, the Peace Corps duty officer may be reached at (202) 638-2574.

The Office of Special Services is responding to a high volume of family calls and electronic messages. They are informing callers that volunteers are being contacted and are being informed of the security situation in the United States. The Peace Corps has no plans to evacuate any country programs. If volunteers need help finding out about family members whom they cannot reach in New York or Washington, we will provide assistance. Callers should be advised that some delays in phone service have been reported.

Thank you for your patience during this critical time.