HURRICANE FLORENCE UPDATE #7
September 14, 2018
We had a telecom this morning with the postal service on their preparation for hurricane Florence. We have scheduled teleconferences at 8am and 530pm each day continuing until Sunday.
During the telecom, we were notified of the changes in Hurricane Florence. It made land fall earlier this morning around 0715 at Wrightsville Beach as a CAT 1 hurricane with winds at 90 mph. The west side of the storm has been receiving the most rain. Flash flooding is extreme and at emergency stages. Tornado warnings are popping up all over by the coast. New Bern is flooding due to surges. There are a lot of power outages along the NC coast. The road to Harkers Island has been washed out. The slower movement means more rain over a longer period of time. The Fayetteville and Rocky Mount plants are closed. Deliveries in the 278, 279, 283, 284 and 285 have been suspended for the day.
In the 278/279 area there will be no mail arriving, no retail and no delivery and no dispatch of mail. Employees are not to report today and they will need to call the 800 number for instructions pertaining to Saturday. However, be advised the 800 number only provides information for an entire 3-digit zip code area so there are instructions for the employees to contact local management if they have questions or for specific information.
Please make sure you call the emergency hotline number if you cannot make it to work or even if you are part of an office that is closed. They need to affirm that they heard from you and you are safe. This will also secure Act of Nature Pay (Administrative Leave 078).
We will continue to update and provide information as we get it.
Please update all of your emergency contact information with the postal service, (your contact number, your mailing and residential address and your emergency contact person and their number). When updating your emergency contact please do it via Liteblue if at all possible. If you are in an affected area and cannot be reached the inspection service will have to come to your residence to verify you are okay. The postal service is making arrangements for generators and they are being tested. The postal service is obtaining bottled water and MREs to have readily available if needed. The unions are being informed as best as possible.
We may be working mail for other areas or other area may have to work our mail according to the direction of the storm. Please be flexible and understanding as possible as we try to make through this crisis. You may want to make sure your personal vehicle has gas. Gas has become a problem; make sure that you are keeping your vehicle with gas. Your safety is first and foremost. I will be updating you as often as possible. Prayers go out to everyone, God Bless !!!
Anthony (Tony) Wilson
General President
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