Post Storm: Flooding, Contamination

In the aftermath of a hurricane/tropical storm and/or heavy rainfall, postal facilities can be flooded. Please remember, as a general guidance, material and mail unaffected by the flooding conditions can be handled through normal procedures.

This means that mail, accountable paper, stamps, and currency only affected by rain (not flood water of storm surge) can be handled using normal procedures, including drying mail for reentry into the mainstream.

Mail which has been flood damaged and which may have been contaminated must be assessed prior to further processing and delivery to ensure the health and safety of the USPS employees and customers is not compromised.

Any mail items assessed as contaminated should be tested. Facilities must consult local Health Department/Environmental Health professionals for suggested interpretation of results.

Potentially-Contaminated Mail

Isolate the contaminated mail in an area to prevent cross contamination with other employees and mail. Follow one of the noted processes:

1.   Collect mail pieces and notify the customers the mail is ready to be picked up and provide notice to the customers the mail has been contaminated by flood waters and precautions should be taken.

2.  Collect and destroy mail.

3.   Decontaminate the surfaces of mail pieces with a 6% hypo-chlorite solution and place mail in Ziploc- type bags. Bagged mail can then be delivered with a note to the recipient stating the mail was contaminated, the surface was decontaminated, and the recipient needs to take precautions.

4.  If required “Penetration Decontamination” will be conducted by a licensed vendor/contractor.

The mail is not fully contaminated for procedure 3, therefore USPS employees must be trained in HAZWOPER for EPA Level C.

Be sure to check with your USPS Environmental Department, District Safety, and local authorities for any additional regulations regarding decontamination.