USPS logo LINK — USPS employee news Printable

After Ida

Post-storm recovery efforts continue

A USPS mobile retail unit serves customers at the LaPlace, LA, Post Office, one of the facilities damaged by Hurricane Ida.

USPS is continuing to restore service after Hurricane Ida, the powerful storm that knocked out power and caused widespread damage in Louisiana and other areas late last month.

Immediately after the storm, Southern Area’s hurricane recovery team focused on resuming retail, delivery and mail processing operations, while the Postal Inspection Service evaluated individual USPS facilities to ensure they were safe for employees and customers to occupy.

“Our goal is to resume delivery, retail and collections as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Louisiana District Manager David Camp.

“Before we announced that we were resuming operations in the affected ZIP Code areas, we had already started delivering in the New Orleans area over the Labor Day weekend and holiday. Our employees recognize the essential public service role they play.”

The Postal Service also focused on accounting for employees — a challenging task due to the extensive power outages, mandatory evacuations and spotty cellphone service.

“Louisiana District is happy to report that all employees were all accounted for,” said Albert Ruiz, a Southern Area strategic communications specialist.

USPS has also deployed power generators for offices without power, provided alternate locations for Post Offices that cannot be safely occupied, and staged mobile retail units (MRUs) at the site of damaged Post Offices.

MRUs allow customers to conduct postal retail transactions, fill out change-of-address and Hold Mail forms, and pick up their PO Box mail with proper identification.

Additionally, USPS is reminding employees that the Postal Employees’ Relief Fund offers assistance to current and retired workers affected by natural disasters, while the USPS Employee Assistance Program helps employees and family members cope with life-changing challenges like Hurricane Ida.