Postal Service Maintains Operations During Tropical Storm Edouard

Houston, TX — As Tropical Storm Edouard hits the upper Texas coastal area this morning, the U. S. Postal Service is providing full postal service operations everywhere possible, as localized flooding, power outages and road conditions permit.

"The safety of our employees is our top priority,” said Kelvin Williams, Houston District Manager. “We are committed to delivering the mail today and are following the lead of local emergency officials to deliver to areas they deem as safe.”

Currently, nine post offices have reported power outages and some are working to restore retail and customer service operations with portable power generators providing emergency backup lighting. The offices are: Crystal Beach, Gilchrest, Groves, High Island, Port Bolivar, Port Arthur, Port Neches, Sabine Pass, and Vidor.

Additional post offices may temporarily close their lobbies as the tropical storm passes through the area. If roads become impassable or conditions become unsafe for travel, mail delivery services in some areas may be delayed or curtailed, and collection of mail from mailboxes may be suspended. The situation is being continuously monitored by postal emergency operations officials, and where service impacts occur, normal services will be resumed as soon as safely possible.

Additional information regarding impacts to postal operations within specific areas will be issued as necessary.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.