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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