A Message from the District Manager

Today marks the official start of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

While we can’t control Mother Nature, we can prepare ahead to protect our family and secure our property as best we can before a tropical storm or hurricane heads in our direction. This past weekend my family and I reviewed our Emergency Action Plan to ensure that we are all prepared this season. If you already haven’t done so, now is the time to review and replenish items in your home emergency supply kit, survey and videotape/photograph the contents of your home, review your insurance policies and other important documents, and ensure that your current address and phone number are on file with the Postal Service. 

Just as you have an Emergency Action Plan at home, our District Emergency Management Team (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). The team consists of the South Florida District leadership and Postal Inspectors whose mission 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.

Please be assured that throughout the season, the EMT will monitor weather bulletins issued by the National Hurricane Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The team will communicate by phone and through meetings and teleconferences, and based on weather forecasts, will make operational decisions.  

Remember there’s only one source of information on reporting time changes, facility openings and closings, and other workplace announcements.  We’ll use the USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline (1-888-363-7462) to stay connected with all employees throughout the district.  That’s a very important number to keep handy for up-to-date information in emergencies --- including before, during and after tropical weather threatens Florida.  Deaf and/or hard-of-hearing employees who are seeking workplace information should call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. Ask the operator to call the USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline, and then relay the information to you.                              

In the event that a natural disaster like a hurricane requires you to leave your home, city, or state, please call the USPS National Employee Hotline at 1-888-363-7462 and select Option # 5 to report your new location, physical condition, and contact information.

Working together as a team and keeping informed through Newsbreaks and hotline messaging, I am confident that we will weather any tropical storm or hurricane that may come our way.