The Postal Service is preparing for the potential impact of Gustav by advising customers that normal service operations in the path of the storm may be impacted in the event of unsafe conditions such as high winds, flooding, or impassable roads.
Depending on local conditions, some post offices may temporarily close their lobbies as Gustav makes landfall. If roads become impassable or unsafe for travel, mail delivery services may be curtailed, and mail collection schedules from mailboxes could be suspended.
Postal Service employees throughout the Beaumont-Galveston-Houston area will be working today and tomorrow to secure the mail, postal facilities and equipment in advance of the potential arrival of Hurricane Gustav.
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 would be suspended, including mail processing, mail delivery, scheduled collection of mail from mailboxes, bulk mail acceptance, post office box service and retail post office lobby services. Drop shipment appointments would also be suspended at closed facilities.
Postal Service employees in the 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.
Early delivery of Social Security checks
In advance of the expected landfall of Hurricane Gustav, the U.S. Postal Service in conjunction with the Social Security Administration and the Financial Management Service has made special arrangements to expedite delivery of monthly benefit checks early on Friday, August 29, and Saturday August 30, in coastal areas of Louisiana and Texas.
The Postal Service is advancing mail delivery of Social Security checks normally received by customers on the 1st and 3rd of the month within the following areas:
Louisiana
Statewide (ZIP Code areas 700-708)
Texas
Houston metro area (ZIP Code areas 770-778)
Victoria metro (ZIP Code 789)
Corpus Christi metro (ZIP Code 783-784)
Rio Grande Valley (ZIP Code 785)
Letter carriers will deliver checks to addresses in areas where there is no mandatory evacuation order.
The intent of the early release of these Social Security checks is to provide for safe and timely delivery to postal customers prior to the expected arrival of Hurricane Gustav along the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast. As always, the safety of our employees, the sanctity and security of the mail, and service to our customers remain our top priorities.
