Tuesday, April 3, 2012

District Readies for Hurricane Season

The 2012 Hurricane Season officially begins June 1.  Now is the time to start preparation for what promises to be an active season. 
The District Emergency Management Team (EMT), consisting of senior postal officials and Postal Inspectors, plays a critical role before, during, and after an emergency --- including a hurricane threat or strike.  Just as you have an Emergency Action Plan to protect your family and secure your property, the EMT has a multitude of tasks assigned in the Integrated Emergency Management Plan (IEMP) and its Hurricane Annex which outlines specific preparedness, response, and recovery actions as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 
As with other federal agencies, the Postal Service utilizes an Incident Command System, a structure that defines the roles and responsibilities of individual EMT members.  Roles range from overseeing the installation of hurricane shutters to recording National Employee Emergency Hotline messaging to restoring operations and service.
During an emergency such as a tropical storm or a hurricane, the EMT relies on the Postal Alert Notification System (PANS), a web-based and wireless communications mechanism, to coordinate tasks and record actions taken before, during, and after a weather event.  Throughout hurricane season, the EMT monitors NHC advisories 24/7.  Based on these weather forecasts, the team communicates through meetings and teleconferences to make operational decisions.  This information is then messaged on the National Employee Emergency Hotline.  Media reports also will advise employees to call the hotline for instructions; specific information on work schedules and facility status will not be provided through media channels.
“The mission of the EMT is to ensure your safety and well being as the Postal Service restores operations and service as quickly as possible following a tropical storm or a hurricane,” said District Manager Jeffrey Becker. 

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