USPS suspends services in these states, effective immediately
Summer storms are having a serious impact on postal customers across the country.
If you saw postmen outside deliver the mail In the extreme heat of summer, one would assume that they can do their job in all conditions. But when the time becomes Also unsafe, the United States Postal Service (USPS) will remove workers from its routes and suspend operations. In fact, last winter we saw the USPS temporarily close hundreds of post Office across the country amid snowstorms and blizzards. Now, summer storms are causing the agency to retreat to more locations across the country. Read on to find out where the USPS is currently suspending services.
RELATED: USPS is making these changes to your mail, starting now .
The USPS just closed 60 post offices in Florida.
A major natural disaster is currently causing widespread postal disruptions in the Sunshine State. In a new warning on its website, the Postal Service announced that several post offices in Florida are now closed due to Hurricane Idalia. “A destructive Hurricane Idalia made landfall along the west coast of Florida,” the agency said. "There are impacts to USPS operations in areas affected by the powerful storm. Please refer to our Residential Services Alerts webpage for the current status. Our top priority is the safety of our customers and our employees." ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
In an August 29 update to his Service Alerts , the USPS said the approaching storm prompted it to suspend operations at only 10 facilities in the state. Then, on Aug. 30, the agency added 50 more post offices to the list. That's currently a total of 60 closed facilities in Florida, including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Horeshoe Beach and Largo.
RELATED: See a sticker on your mailbox? Don't Touch It, Says USPS .
Deliveries have also been suspended in many parts of the state.
Hurricane Idalia first attempt the Big Bend of Florida's Gulf Coast on the morning of August 30, CNN reported. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, closing bridges, causing evacuations and knocking out power to nearly 270,000 homes and businesses in the state. Small island towns like Cedar Key (whose post office was closed by the USPS) have already been overwhelmed by the hurricane. 'We're effectively cut off from the world now,' Cedar Key resident Michael Bobbitt told CNN.
As a result, the Postal Service has not only suspended retail operations at these 60 Florida post offices. In two separate premises Press Releases , USPS residents have been warned in these areas, delivery operations were also interrupted. This will remain in force “until further notice”, according to the agency.
“The Postal Service appreciates its customers and their understanding as we temporarily adjust our operations due to inclement weather,” the USPS said in one of the releases. "We will continue to monitor weather conditions and restore service when it is safe to do so."
RELATED: USPS Warns “Mail Service May Be Interrupted” – Even If You Follow the Rules .
The Postal Service also suspended services at a facility in Ohio.
However, bad weather didn't just lead to postal closures in Florida. In an August 28 update to its Service Alerts website, the USPS announced that it had suspended all retail operations at the Beachwood Post Office in Ohio. The suspension is “due to a power outage,” the agency said.
More than 310,000 customers in northeast Ohio lost power due to storms that hit the area on the night of Aug. 24, according to an alert issued by the city of Beachwood. official site . But as of August 28, at least 10,000 customers were still without power.
Better life contacted USPS to find out when retail operations will resume at the Beachwood Post Office, and we will update this story with their response. The agency told customers they could find service at two nearby outlets: the Shaker Heights Post Office and the Cranwood Post Office.
For more USPS alerts delivered straight to your inbox, Subscribe to our daily newsletter .
An office in West Virginia is currently closed.
The USPS issued another service alert on August 29 to notify residents of Winifrede, West Virginia of a new suspension of service in the area. According to the agency's alert, the Winifrede post office was "temporarily closed for security reasons."
Better life contacted the Postal Service for more details on the concerns expressed, and we will update this story with their response. But like what's affecting Florida and Ohio, it appears dangerous storms also played a role in the closure.
The governor of West Virginia. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency on Aug. 28 for several counties, including Kanawha County, where Winifrede is located. The order was issued after heavy weekend rains began causing flash flooding in the area, USA today reported. As a result, the USPS transferred all operations from the Winifrede Post Office to the Marmet Post Office in Charleston, West Virginia.