The Postal Service is working to keep the mail moving in South Carolina, which has been ravaged by flooding this week.
Residents face evacuations, road closures, power outages and water advisories due to flooding, which resulted from an 11-day stretch of unprecedented rainfall. At least 19 people have died, and President Obama has declared several counties federal disaster areas.
Postal vehicles are submerged in water at a Forest Acres, SC, branch office.
“In the days to come, we will deliver the messages, medications and checks that will help South Carolinians get back on their feet,” said Greater South Carolina District Manager Darryl Martin.
The district prepared for the crisis by following the Postal Service’s emergency management guidelines. The district focused on the “three P’s” — people, products and property — during the preparedness phase.
The district also has focused on staying in touch with employees to identify those affected by the storm and to determine where service could safely be re-established.
Employees were encouraged to use the national emergency hotline number— 888-EMERGENC — to stay in touch.
Martin and Sr. Plant Manager Frank Veal sent a letter to all facilities to thank employees for their dedication and to advise them of resources available from the Employee Assistance Pr ogram and Postal Employees Relief Fund.
A postal vehicle stops near a flooded street in Charleston, SC.
A fire and rescue crew survey damage in Columbia, SC, this week. Photo: The State newspaper
Source: USPS News Link
The USPS was delivering to my home AND my business in Columbia SC like clockwork throughout the flood, as well as the aftermath. Sure, with road closures and the like they were a *little* later (like 1/2hr to 1hr later) on a couple of the worst days; but that still qualified as nothing short of exceptional, and I must say I was very impressed. The worst ran from Saturday, Oct. 3rd, through Tuesday, Oct. 6th or Wed. Oct. 8th.
True, the areas immediately surrounding my business, and the whole delivery area in which my home is located, were basically untouched. That said, my business’ delivery route DID include a number of roads with closures…so, like I said, kudos. During this time the USPS website DID NOT list any delays, closures, etc.
But here’s the thing. On Thursday the 8th, suddenly an update appeared on the USPS website. It said they were suddenly struggling with the aftermath of the storm! Checking the spreadsheet showed PO closures – closures that were certainly to be expected, I have no doubt were accurate, and the report could simply have been delayed or is produced weekly…not sure about that. But USPS had, as I said, been delivering like clockwork. On Thursday, they delivered mail just fine. But suddenly on Friday and Saturday…no mailman. Businesses on my route told me the same…no mail. I was expecting important packages those days, and they did not arrive. Tracking was not updated after the ‘arrived at processing facility’ (keep in mind that the processing facility is in another unscathed area). Of course it will not arrive today either, because today is Columbus day. So I had Priority Mail shipments that always arrive in two days – ALWAYS – shipped on Wednesday and Thursday, yet I will not receive them until the following Tuesday.
If you ask me, something VERY fishy is going on here. All of a sudden the carriers aren’t showing up, when the impact of the flood (which, as I say, barely impacted our areas at all) has completely dissipated in all but the worst-hit areas? This very much sounds like some sort of excuse to me, an excuse for something that they do not want to make public. Perhaps lost revenue from the closed POs led them to grant (forced) leave for the carriers in our fair city? I have no idea…but I’m very, very frustrated about this!
I wish that PO employees in our area were willing to make things more transparent instead of always remaining close-lipped, never offering any explanations for packages that sit in the processing facility for days or are lost entirely; and the customer service center (the only number in Columbia which is ever answered) didn’t provide such horrific customer service! (Never answering the phones at the Customer Service center, and not replying to voicemails for sometimes up to 5 days, and never less than 2-3 days) so we could get to the bottom of this!
My prayers goes out to the state of South Carolina and all those affected by the storm.I would also like to send a shout out to my fellow mail carriers