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Is the mail I receive in my mailbox safe?
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Educating our customers about this important subject is one of the best ways we can help them to stay safe. The Postal Service has mailed a post card to every household in America. It contains easy-to-understand information on how to identify, and what to do with, a suspicious mail piece.
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Are the employees at my post office afraid to come to work?
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The employees at local post offices are taking it day by day and doing everything they can to keep themselves and customers safe. The Postal Service has sent a postcard to all employees about how to safely handle mail. Postal Service employees know how important it is to America – our way of life, our freedom, our economy – to keep the mail moving.
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Will my mail be delayed?
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At this time, there may be some delays depending on the destination of the mail piece. Please remember the Postal Service is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and security of employees and customers.
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How has the current closure of the Brentwood facility affected mail delivery in Washington, DC? Does a letter normally requiring 3 days for delivery now require 5 or 6?
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No. There have been some delays due to the additional security precautions, but mail for the District of Columbia is now being processed at two nearby facilities.
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Are you going to shut down the mail?
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The Postal Service is taking every possible precaution to protect the health and safety of the public and its employees, and doing that while keeping the mail moving. Some offices have been closed for environmental testing, and a very small number of offices will remain closed until they are sanitized. However, the mail processing activities, and the employees who performed them, have been relocated to other sites. The mail is an indispensable part of life – it is vitally important to the American economy and to individual freedom. The Postal Service will not allow terrorists to stop it.
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Are you considering any restrictions or limitations on mail delivery in certain areas?
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No. We are not. As long as medical experts tell us that the general public is not being exposed to an unmanageable risk, we will keep the mail moving. At the same time, we will do everything possible to protect our employees, who are the first line of defense in this war against terror.
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What’s the latest on the investigative front – any new developments in tracing the origins of any of the contaminated letters?
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We’re not providing details of the ongoing investigation, but we are making progress. Working with the FBI, we are exploring a number of leads. If anyone has any information, you can provide it by calling 1-800-CRIME-TV or at www.amw.com.
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What should I do if I find a letter or package to be suspicious?
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If you get a package or piece of mail that you're suspicious of, the first thing to do is stay calm. Don't handle, shake, bump, or sniff the suspicious item. Notify your local law enforcement authorities right away. Isolate the mail piece and keep others away from the area. If possible, put the mail piece in a zip-locked plastic bag and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The simple act of paying attention to your incoming mail is the best way to keep the mail safe. For updated information on the safety and security of the mail, please visit our web site at www.usps.com.
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Is the mail nationwide running slower due to the anthrax scares?
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We are aware of no systemic delays due to the anthrax incidents.
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