Hurricane Damages Postal Facilities, Operations
The destruction wrought by hurricane Irene has caused postal facilities from the Carolinas up to Massachusetts to temporarily suspend operations while officials assess the degree of damage.
Some direct mailers have shown an ability to survive under these conditions–even after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
In New Jersey, for example, many power outages remain in ZIP codes 077, 080-087, because of flooding and high tide cresting, many roads are impassable, according to the USPS, which noted that major transportation routes have been closed.
In addition, many southern New Jersey ZIP code areas have curtailed deliveries until damages are accessed and transportation routes are deemed safe. They are: 08008; 00202, 08203; 08204; 08212; 08226; 08243; 08247; 08260; 08260; 08401; 08403 and 08406.
In North Carolina, bridge closings have closed access to ZIP code areas 283 and 285,
Specifically, the post office in Vandemere, NC reported flooding and the post office box location has been moved temporarily to the Bayboro, NC post office.
Power outages have been reported in postal facilities in ZIP code areas 280-285, 287-289, and 297, 270-279, and 286.
Also, Highway 12 is flooded in Rodanthe and will be impassable for three to four days. The ferry will be shuttling mail to the Southern Outer Bank offices, according to the USPS.
In Virginia, a total of 83 postal facilities have no power, including the Richmond processing and distribution center.
In Maryland, many facilities have temporarily suspended operations until power is restored and clean-up complete.
The affected ZIP code areas are 21234; 21207; 21206; 21229; 21244; 21215; 21216; 21146; 21012; 21085;21161; 21017; 21028; 21132; 21036; 21051; 21053; 21023; 21139; 21018; 21052; 21076; 21106; 21140; 21156; 21043; 21661; 21869; 21610 and 21403.
In Massachusetts, postal facilities in the following ZIP code areas have lost power due to the Hurricane. They are: 07156; 01568; 01752; 01532; 01581; 01514; 01550; 01772; 02638; 02670; 02631; 02067; 02061; 02333; 02332; 02364; 02559; 02659; 02632; 02538; 02060; 02055; 02351; 02020; 02532; 02543; 02543; 02553; 02574; 02637; 02641; 02643; 02661; 02662; 02360 and 02379
In New York, the hurricane flooded postal facilities in the following ZIP code areas: 12407; 12729;12430; 12439; 12528; 12454; 12455; 10953; 12457; 12468; 12480 and 10994.
Facilities that lost power were located in these ZIP code areas: 12428; 12487; 12553; 11530; 11545; 11560; 11580; 11590; 11596; 11930; 11935; 11942; 11944; 11946; 11949; 11953; 11957; 11958; 11960; 11961; 11962; 11963; 11970; 11971; 11976; 11722; 11724; 11726; 11753; 11754; 11756; 11768; 11771; 11780; 11787; 11790; 11791; 11795; 11709; 11778 and 11716.
