Postal Service working around-the-clock in preparation for Gustav

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — U.S. Postal Service employees in facilities along the Texas Gulf Coast and elsewhere will be working behind the scenes, around-the-clock and though the Labor Day weekend to secure the mail, postal facilities and equipment in advance of the potential arrival of Hurricane Gustav.

The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Gustav by advising customers that normal service operations in the path of the storm may be affected in the event of unsafe conditions such as high winds, flooding, or impassable roads.

On Monday, Sept. 1, the Postal Service will observe the Labor Day Holiday and there will be no mail delivery — with the exception of Express Mail — or Post Office retail windows open. 

Depending on local conditions, some post offices may temporarily close their lobbies, including those normally open 24 hours, as Gustav makes landfall.  Those closed Post Office lobbies will reopen once the pending storm has passed, and the security of employees, facilities, and the mail has been ensured.

If roads become impassable or unsafe for travel, mail delivery services may be curtailed, and mail collection schedules from mail collection boxes in areas affected by the storm could be suspended.

The Postal Service will make plans to suspend services in the event a mandatory evacuation order is issued by local, state, or federal emergency management officials. Customer service operations in any area covered by a mandatory evacuation order will be temporarily suspended, including mail processing, mail delivery, scheduled collection of mail from mail collection boxes, bulk mail acceptance, post office box service and retail post office lobby services. Drop shipment appointments will also be suspended at closed facilities.

For the latest information on USPS service updates, check: http://www.usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.htm

Postal Service employees in the Texas Gulf Coast area are being advised to check for changes to their scheduled work reporting status by contacting the USPS National Emergency Notification Hotline to determine if any special instructions have been issued. The toll-free USPS National Emergency Notification Hotline for U.S. Postal Service employees is: 1-888-363-7462.

Customers can call the Postal Service’s toll-free number 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) or the TTY number 877-TTY-2HLP (877-889-2457) for help with any postal questions they may have.

Additional information regarding postal operations within specific ZIP Code areas affected by Hurricane Gustav will be issued by the U.S. Postal Service as necessary.