It's National Preparedness Month

At home or at work, routines can be disrupted with little or no warning by catastrophic events. Don’t wait for an emergency to think about being prepared. Anticipating emergencies and planning a response can save lives, and greatly lessen the extent of injuries and property damage.

For National Preparedness Month this September, the National Safety Council urges businesses and families to prepare for unexpected emergencies, both large and small. One step everyone can take is to receive training in basic First Aid, CPR, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). Ideally, at least one person in each household should have these life-saving skills.

NSC offers emergency care training year-around through its local chapters, in classrooms or online. Visit the council’s Website, www.nsc.org, for chapter locations and local contact information.

National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready campaign to increase public awareness of emergency preparedness. NSC is a campaign partner.

The National Safety Council saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Source:  National Safety Council

New Purple Heart Stamp Available

The U.S. Postal Service continues to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military with the issuance of the new Purple Heart Medal Forever stamp.  

Today, September 4, is the first day that customers may purchase this new stamp at their local Post Office. The new Forever Stamp differs from the 2011 version with a slightly larger image of the Medal and on a white background.

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veterans, the medal is “the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to a common soldier.”

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:   Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue issue postmark by mail. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:       

Purple Heart Medal Stamps 
Special Cancellation
PO Box 92282
Washington DC  20090-2282

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by November 5, 2012.

Isaac Makes Waves in Loxahatchee

Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, the Loxahatchee Post Office at 14611 Southern Blvd. has two feet of water in its customer parking lot.

Effective Tuesday, August 28, Loxahatchee customers are picking up their Post Office Box mail at the Palms West Post Office at 10299 Southern Blvd.  This Post Office is located in the Village Shopping Center in Royal Palm Beach.  PO Box mail may be picked up at this temporary location between 9 am and 5 pm.

Letter carriers are reporting to the Palms West Post Office and are delivering their regular routes from that location.  

Customers are encouraged to conduct their transactions at the Palms West Post Office while the water recedes in the Loxahatchee Post Office parking lot.  The Loxahatchee Post Office could be closed for several days due to flooding.

The USPS apologizes for the inconvenience to its customers.  As a reminder, the Postal Service website — usps.com — is an online Post Office at your fingertips, and it is open for business 24/7.