USPS and employees in Moore, OK, were not spared from the destruction caused by the massive tornado that tore through the town May 20.

Among those killed during the tornado was Richard Jones, a Tour 3 employee at the Oklahoma City P&DC. Jones, a 28-year employee, is survived by his mother, Lajunda Yeager.

Some of the more than 200 employees and their families who live in Moore suffered in other ways. The homes of at least 20 employees were severely damaged or destroyed by the tornado.

When the tornado struck the small community of 50,000 residents 11 miles south of Oklahoma City, 23 people were inside the Moore Post Office Branch, one of the retail facilities that serves the town. Even though the facility and 11 of its vehicles were destroyed, no one inside the Moore Branch Office was injured.

Another facility in Moore, the Santa Fe Station, temporarily lost power in the tornado’s wake. Power now has been restored, and the facility is offering retail services and delivering mail where possible.

In the days since the devastation, USPS has temporarily established operations for the areas affected at the Airmail Finance Unit, located near the destroyed facility. The Postal Service is advising customers who can’t receive their mail to go to the Airmail Finance Unit in Oklahoma City.

The Mail Service Updates website at usps.com has the latest information for customers and employees on the restoration of regular service.

The Employee Assistance Program’s short-term counseling service can help employees and their families with personal, job or family problems. It’s free, voluntary and confidential. The program also provides assessment and referral to employees and their families. Employees can contact EAP 24/7 at 800-327-4968 (TTY: 877-492-7341) or on the EAP website.