MAKING A LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE - Postal Service offers tips on holiday packing and shipping

MAKING A LIST, CHECKING IT TWICE
Postal Service offers tips on holiday packing and shipping

Washington, DC - More than 20 billion cards, letters and packages will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

To help make sure that packages arrive safely and on time, the Postal Service has simple recommendations that will make a big difference for consumers.

When preparing packages, consider the following:

PRINT addresses clearly
Include all address elements (apartment numbers, suite numbers, directional information for streets - for example: 123 S. Main St. or 12456 Elm St. N.).
Include both "to" and "from" information on packages - but only on one side.
Always use shipping tape.
Cushion contents appropriately. For example, fill glass and fragile hollow items, like vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage due to shock. When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
Helpful packaging tips include:
Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents. Leave space for cushioning inside the carton.
Package contents with shredded or rolled newspaper, bubble wrap, or Styrofoam peanuts. Plain air-popped popcorn is also good for cushioning; it's inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Pack tightly to avoid shifting.
Always use tape that is designed for shipping, such as pressure-sensitive tape, nylon-reinforced craft paper tape, or fiberglass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape. Do not use wrapping paper, string, masking tape, or cellophane tape.
Placing an index card with the sender's address and recipient's address inside the package will help the Postal Service re-pack boxes that were improperly wrapped and came apart during transporting and processing.

Packages being mailed using postage stamps and weighing 16 ounces or more can be left for the letter carrier to pick up but cannot be deposited into a blue street mailbox.

And don't forget to mark the calendar: ship no later than Dec. 19 so packages arrive on time.

Please Note: Broadcast-quality audio files are being provided for radio reporters on the U.S. Postal Service website. An Audio News Release on this topic featuring Delores Killette, Vice President and Consumer Advocate, is available in the Holiday Press Room: www.usps.com

POSTAL SERVICE PREPARES FOR BUSIEST MAILING AND DELIVERY DAYS

POSTAL SERVICE PREPARES FOR BUSIEST MAILING AND DELIVERY DAYS
20 billion letters, packages and cards heading across America through Christmas

Washington, DC - If all the mail the U.S. Postal Service will deliver on Dec. 19 was placed end to end, it would circle the globe. Six times.

The Postal Service will deliver 20 billion letters, packages and cards between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the busiest mailing day expected to be Monday, Dec. 19, with more than 280 million cards and letters being cancelled - more than twice that of an average day. Total mail volume on Dec. 19 is expected to rise to 900 million pieces of mail, up from 670 million pieces on an average day.

"We know that our customers depend on us during the holidays. We've been delivering holiday cheer for 236 years," said Patrick Donahoe, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Operating Officer. "If I could sit down at the kitchen table with every American family this holiday season, I would share just one simple message. We're ready for you!"

About 100 million First-Class letters are processed every day. That number increases to 150 million a day during the holidays. About 1 million packages will be delivered every day through Christmas Eve. The busiest delivery day will be Wednesday, Dec. 21.

"Our commitment to our customers remains strong. We have a challenge ahead that is going to be met. And we have plans in place to meet them," Donahoe said.

More than 7,400 Post Offices across the country have extended hours into the evening and weekends for the holiday season. Within the next two weeks, the National Operations Center will be staffed around the clock, seven days a week, to monitor and coordinate mail transportation nationwide.

More than 2,500 Automated Postal Centers (APCs) have been installed in Postal facilities, reaching into more and more neighborhoods around the country to make visiting a Post Office easier. Just as an ATM is a virtual, stand-alone bank, the APC is a virtual, stand-alone Post Office. The APC does everything short of face-to-face transactions, dispensing stamps, weighing packages and calculating postage for Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail and Parcel Post items.

APCs also provide extensive mailing information and ZIP Code locators.

And, like Santa Claus, the Post Office is everywhere, with 36,000 locations across the country and on every computer in America at usps.com. Almost anything that can be done at a Post Office can be done online at usps.com, at a time that is convenient for the customer.

Ship a package, purchase stamps, hold mail, request a carrier pick up, and design and print greeting cards, and find a ZIP Code. Included in the more than two dozen services available through the Postal Service website are Click-N-Ship and Carrier Pickup. Click-N-Ship allows customers to print labels and pay for postage and insurance from laptops or desktops.

With Carrier Pickup, customers can take advantage of the personal convenience and service of having packages picked up at their home or office, saving a trip to the Post Office, regardless of the weather. Unlike other shipping companies, there is no fee for the service.

Customers simply print Priority Mail and Express Mail labels with Click-N-Ship, then log on to www.usps.com to request a pickup of the package. A letter carrier will pick it up at no extra charge during the next day's delivery.

Customers also can call 1-800-ASK-USPS for general information on hours and services. More than 2.2 billion holiday cookie stamps have been printed and are available to customers by calling 1-800-STAMP-24. Stamps also may be purchased at more than 80,000 locations, including supermarkets, convenience stores, drugstores and ATMs, in addition to Post Offices.

"With the holidays just around the corner, everyone can use a little help. Let our convenient online services and Postal locations around town give you more time to spend with family and friends this holiday season," Donahoe said.

'LETTERS TO SANTA' ADD TO THE MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS

'LETTERS TO SANTA' ADD TO THE MAGIC OF THE HOLIDAYS
And a letter from Santa is even better!

Washington, DC — Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And he writes letters.

In 1912, then Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to allow individuals or institutions to use letters addressed to Santa Claus for philanthropic purposes. This tradition is carried on today, with Post Offices across the country making "Letters to Santa" available to individuals and groups upon request.

While Santa receives most of his mail at the North Pole, AK, some are sent to Santa's helpers, charitable organizations, Postal Service employees and volunteers who help make a child's wishes come true. Some of these letters will be featured during a one-hour special, "Dear Santa," airing on Dec. 9 on the FOX Network.

Like all mail, it's important that letters to Santa include a complete return address with ZIP Code and a First-Class postage stamp. Santa enjoys candy canes and cookies, and his reindeer are known to enjoy fresh hay. But because these treats can be damaged or crushed when sent in an envelope, Postal officials know that such treats are best left under the tree on Christmas Eve.

Interested organizations should contact their local Post Offices to receive and respond to Letters to Santa.

There are simple steps for families to follow if they are interested in having a "response" from Santa postmarked from the North Pole.

Parents, families or friends helping a child write a letter to Santa should mention some of the child's requests and information in the letter from Santa. Adding a line or two about the child's accomplishments or successes this year is encouraged.

Once the response is written, place the letter in a stamped envelope addressed to the child. "North Pole, AK" should be the return address. Then place the envelope into a larger, properly stamped, First-Class Mail or Priority Mail envelope and mail to:

North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks, AK 99709-9998

North Pole postmark requests must arrive in Fairbanks, AK, before Dec. 15. Parents should send letters by Priority Mail after that date.

For bigger "kids," several cities participate in the holiday re-mailing, including Bethlehem, PA; Garland, UT; Nazareth, MI; Antler, ND and Snowflake, AZ. For a complete list of cities participating in the re-mailing program, visit the Holiday Press Room at usps.com and click on "Holiday Cities."

Those interested in having postmarks from these cities should place all addressed and stamped cards and letters in a larger envelope addressed to Postmaster and include city, state and ZIP Code. Use the ZIP Code Locator on usps.com if a ZIP Code is unknown.

"Santa has a lot of helpers this year, and we're happy to do our part to deliver the holidays. It's what we do best," said John E. Potter, Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service.

SANTA’S ZIP CODE

SANTA’S ZIP CODE. The Postal Service not only helps get letters to Santa, we’re there to help the big guy when it comes to getting letters from Santa. So, if you know people who want that prestigious North Pole postmark on their greeting cards, tell them they should stamp, address, seal, and mail their cards together inside a larger envelope to:NORTH POLE CHRISTMAS CANCELLATIONPOSTMASTER5400 MAIL TRAILFAIRBANKS AK 99709-9998The cards will be postmarked and delivered as addressed. North Pole postmark requests must arrive in Fairbanks, AK, before Dec. 15, 2005.

Reminder: Short Shipping Week - Thanksgiving

Just a reminder, ship out those packages early this week. Thanksgiving Day is this Thursday and the Parcel delivery companies will be closed for the holiday.

USPS: Closed Thursday November 24, 2005
FedEx: Closed Thursday November 24, 2005
UPS: Closed Thursday & Friday November 24-25, 2005
Fast-Pack will also be closed in observance of the holiday. All orders placed after 5:00pm EST on Wednesday Nov. 23, 2005 will ship on Monday Nov. 28, 2005

Upcoming Holiday closures:

USPSMonday, December 25 - Christmas Day
Monday, January 2, 2006 - New Year's Day

UPS
Christmas Day - December 25, 2005
Day after Christmas - December 26, 2005
New Year’s Eve - December 31, 2005

FedEx
Sunday, Dec. 25th Christmas Day
Monday, Dec. 26th Day after Christmas

Packaging your brand for success

When most people hear the word “brand” they immediately think “logos” - but in fact, branding is so much more than that. A brand involves blending the image, purpose, and focus of your business, with your core marketing message, and coming up with something which will stick in the minds of people who encounter it. It is who you are and what you do, packaged neatly, clearly, and memorably. A logo is only one element that works to reinforce a brand. In a moment, we’ll talk about another tangible way to package your brand and make your brand memorable.

Practically any business or professional can benefit from a strong brand. But branding is even more important for micro businesses and competitive ecommerce businesses, because they face tighter competition and have to work harder to be seen and recalled. A well executed brand and identity can help them compete on a larger playing field, appear more professional, and stand out from the hordes of competitors.

Once you know how you want to be remembered, your image and your message needs to communicate that. The image can simply be a consistent look used in all your correspondence, a logo that marks everything that comes from your business, and the identity you use on your web site and brochure. The message can be a tag line, your 30 second "elevator speech," and woven through the content on your web site.

A logo is only one manifestation of brand identity, used to create a memorable impression, but it is useless if you have not clearly defined your audience and the focus of your business. In fact, a logo isn’t even a requirement of a brand as there are plenty of clearly branded businesses using only consistent fonts or colors in their marketing collateral.

Every concept has a color and every color represents certain feelings and emotions. For example:

Blue can be conservative, healing, soothing
Brown can be traditional, conservative
Yellow is celebratory, happy and alert
Purple is regal, mysterious and spiritual
Red is exciting and attention getting

Using color can be a powerful way to brand because with just a glance, your customers will be reminded of your business. The human memory is symbolic and abstract – in fact, memory experts often advise connecting a color, feeling or even song with something, in order to trigger a recall. As a business owner, you can take advantage of color psychology to choose the color to evoke the feeling you want – and then reinforce that color as part of your brand. This brings me to the new idea I want to share with you for branding your business!

If you’re in the type of business that sends products to your customers, you are familiar with packaging. Clear tape… brown Kraft paper… Bubble Wrap… YAWN. When your product arrives, people first look to see who sent it – read the label – and then tear it to get what’s inside. It’s job over, the packaging goes in the trash. And your brand – that probably went right over their head. If this is how YOU package things, you might be missing an incredible opportunity to build your brand!

Say you have branded your business around the color blue. You’re sending out your product to a customer wrapped in blue Bubble Wrap, with a big blue bow. With your label on the outside and bright blue packaging, you’re sure to bring a smile to their face.

Or, you send someone a copy of your book, in a box sealed in bright red tape – wow – who ever would expect that in the mail? The next time they see the delivery man coming with a box like that – they’re going to know instantly know who sent it, aren’t they?

Maybe you have a small package to send to your best customers – a copy of your signed book or CD, or a few samples of your newest product. Instead of sending it in a plain bubble envelope, you could use one of the many sizes and colors of Bubble Wrap envelopes, and really get their attention!

Customers notice these little details, believe me! If you take the time to delight them with your packaging, they’re going to want to receive things more from you than if you sent everything in clear tape or brown boxes. It is those details that make the difference when they are thinking about where to buy from again, telling their friends about you and anticipating the delivery.

Another benefit you might not realize is this: say your customer decided to spend a large sum on a “non essential” product for themselves. Not as a gift, not as a business write off but just because they wanted to. And in the days prior to arrival, they might even be thinking “Yikes – what did I just do?!” But then when it arrives it comes looking like a gift, wrapped beautifully, splashed with color. How can they possibly feel anything but wonderful at that moment?

You could also take advantage of this up front – and tell people right in your literature or web site what they or their recipient can expect. Make it part of the stellar customer service, the extra mile, that you go.

That, right there, is what a positive brand is made of.

I’ll bet you’re thinking this is going to cost more than you want to spend on packaging. You would be surprised! Colored Bubble Wrap actually costs the same as plain. You can get tissue paper and packing tape in nearly every color imaginable. Obviously, the packaging is a necessity – if you ship products, you need packaging. Why not take advantage of this chance to stand out, brand your business and please your customer?
© 2005 All Rights Reserved

###Eileen Parzek is an award winning graphic designer and writer providing both digital and print graphic design and web design services. Always found at the intersection of information, creativity and technology, her business, SOHO It Goes! Business Design Studio (www.sohoitgoes.com) helps small businesses make a big impression.

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Are you currently using your packaging as a branding tool? We would like to hear or even see, how you are using your packaging to brand your company and any feedback that you have received from your customers. We would love to see photos of how you use our packaging products, and share them with other Fast-Pack customers. Send any images or feedback you have received about your packaging to jason@fast-pack.com . Thanks Again!

POST OFFICE Closed Friday Nov. 11th - Veterans Day

Just a reminder, The United States Post Office will be closed on Friday Novemeber 11, 2005, in observance of the Veterans Day Holiday.

UPS and FedEx will still be operating, making Pick ups and deliveries.

POSTAL SERVICE DOES IT AGAIN IN OVERNIGHT FIRST-CLASS MAIL DELIVERY

POSTAL SERVICE DOES IT AGAIN IN OVERNIGHT FIRST-CLASS MAIL DELIVERY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Postal Service's high level of service performance remains constant through another measurement period. Its on-time overnight delivery of First-Class Mail earned a 95 percent performance score as measured independently by IBM Consulting Services and announced today during the agency's Board of Governors meeting in Washington, D.C.

This accomplishment marks the 11th consecutive measurement period in which the organization has scored 95 percent or better for on-time overnight delivery of First-Class Mail.

This fourth quarter measurement for fiscal year 2005 also cites two-day service performance at 91 percent and three-day, which is carried by air and can be subject to delays, at 90 percent once again, up from 83 percent in the second quarter.

This report provides an independent assessment of the time it takes First-Class Mail, once it's deposited into collection boxes, to be delivered to homes, businesses and Post Office boxes nationwide.

Five of the USPS' geographic service territories reached 97 percent on-time overnight scores during this reporting period. They are Spokane (eastern Washington State and Idaho); Central Plains (Nebraska, southwest Iowa and most of Kansas); Albany (northern, eastern, central portions of New York State); Richmond, VA; and Baltimore, MD.

During the same period, customer satisfaction was also measured. At 94 percent, this score is up from 93 percent last quarter. This achievement marks the sixteenth continuous quarter the Postal Service has earned a 93 percent or better customer satisfaction measurement score.

In addition, eight Postal Service territories achieved customer satisfaction scores of 97 percent. They are Dakotas (North and South Dakota and northeast Minnesota); Massachusetts (most portions of the State of Massachusetts); Western New York (western portion of New York State, including Buffalo and Rochester); Albany (northern, eastern, central portions of New York State); New Hampshire/ Vermont (all of each state); Pittsburgh, PA; Appalachian (Kentucky and West Virginia); and Hawkeye (Missouri, Iowa and portions of Kansas).

Also, Chairman Miller noted the board had received from the Postal Rate Commission its recommendation on the escrow rate case that is intended to cover the 5.4 percent, $3.1 billion escrow obligation contained in Public Law 108-18. He said the Governors will consider that recommendation on Monday, November 7, 2005 and possibly vote on it later in the month.

In other business, the Board of Governors announced rate changes for Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, and that international rates will increase 5.9 percent. Also, announced was that the HSBC North America Holdings Inc. National Service Agreement is effective today.


- Hurricane-affected ZIP Codes 700, 701 and 395 were not tested in the later portion of this measurement period. -

EXFC Overnight Service Results
July 1 - September 30, 2005 (PQ Iv, FY 2005)

EXFC externally measures collection box to mailbox delivery performance. EXFC continuously tests a panel of 463 ZIP Code areas selected on the basis of geographic and volume density from which 90% of First-Class volume originates and 80% destinates. EXFC is not a system-wide Measurement of all First-Class Mail performance.

PERFORMANCE CLUSTER RESULTS ZIP CODE SERVICE AREAS
ALABAMA 96 350, 351, 352, 358, 361, 366
ALASKA* 97 995, 996
ALBANY 97 120, 121, 122, 123, 128, 130, 131, 132, 135, 139
ALBUQUERQUE 95 870, 871
APPALACHIAN 95 240, 250, 251, 252, 253, 263, 264, 265
ARIZONA 95 850, 852, 853, 855, 856, 857
ARKANSAS 96 720, 721, 722, 723, 727
ATLANTA 94 300, 301, 302, 303
BALTIMORE 97 210, 211, 212, 214, 217, 219
BAY VALLEY 95 939, 945, 946, 947, 948, 950, 951
BIG SKY 96 590, 591, 598
BOSTON 96 021, 024
CAPITAL 96 200, 206, 207, 208, 209
CARIBBEAN 93 009
CENTRAL FLORIDA 95 327, 328, 329, 334
CENTRAL ILLINOIS 96 604, 605, 616, 617, 618, 627
CENTRAL NEW JERSEY 95 077, 085, 086, 088, 089
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA 95 170, 171, 172, 176, 178, 185, 187, 196
CENTRAL PLAINS 97 515, 516, 666, 670, 671, 672, 680, 681, 685
CHICAGO 94 606, 607
CINCINNATI 95 410, 436, 450, 451, 452, 454, 458, 470
COLORADO/WYOMING 96 800, 801, 802, 803, 809, 820
COLUMBUS 95 430, 431, 432, 433
CONNECTICUT 95 060, 061, 062, 064, 069
DAKOTAS 96 570, 571, 573, 581
DALLAS 94 750, 751, 752, 754, 757
DETROIT 95 481, 482, 492
ERIE 96 159, 161, 164, 165, 166
FORT WORTH 95 760, 761, 762, 764, 791, 794
GATEWAY 94 620, 622, 630, 631, 633, 652
GREATER INDIANA 95 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 466, 468, 469, 473, 478, 479
GREATER MICHIGAN 96 486, 488, 489, 490, 493, 494, 495
GREATER SOUTH CAROLINA 96 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296
GREENSBORO 95 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 286
HAWKEYE 96 500, 501, 502, 503, 507, 511, 520, 524, 612
HONOLULU 96 967, 968
HOUSTON 95 770, 772, 773, 774
KENTUCKIANA 96 400, 401, 402, 405, 406, 471, 477
LAKELAND 95 530, 531, 532, 535, 537, 543, 544, 549
LONG ISLAND 94 115, 117, 118, 119
LOS ANGELES 93 900, 902, 903, 904, 905
LOUISIANA 95 700, 701, 705, 708, 711
MAINE 95 040, 041, 043, 044, 045, 048
MASSACHUSETTS 94 010, 011, 012, 013, 015, 016, 017, 018, 019
MID-AMERICA 95 640, 641, 658, 661, 662
MID-CAROLINAS 94 280, 281, 282, 283, 288, 297
MISSISSIPPI 96 386, 390, 391, 392, 395
NEVADA-SIERRA 96 890, 891, 895
NEW HAMPSHIRE/VERMONT 95 030, 031, 032, 033, 034, 038, 050, 054
NEW YORK 94 100, 104
NORTH FLORIDA 95 320, 321, 322, 323, 325, 326
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 96 600, 601, 602, 603, 611
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY 95 070, 071, 072, 073, 074, 075, 076, 078, 079
NORTHERN OHIO 93 440, 441, 442, 443, 445, 447, 449
NORTHERN VIRGINIA 96 201, 220, 221, 222, 223
NORTHLAND 96 540, 546, 550, 551, 553, 554, 559, 563
OKLAHOMA 95 730, 731, 740, 741, 743
PHILADELPHIA METRO 96 180, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194
PITTSBURGH 95 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 156
PORTLAND 95 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 986
RICHMOND 97 224, 225, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 238
RIO GRANDE 95 765, 767, 780, 781, 782, 784, 786, 787, 788, 789, 797, 799
SACRAMENTO 94 937, 952, 956, 957, 958
SALT LAKE CITY 96 840, 841, 844
SAN DIEGO 96 919, 920, 921, 924
SAN FRANCISCO 95 940, 941, 943, 944, 949
SANTA ANA 95 906, 907, 908, 917, 918, 926, 927, 928
SEATTLE 96 980, 981, 982, 984, 985
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN 94 480, 483, 484, 485
SOUTH FLORIDA 92 330, 331, 332, 333
SOUTH GEORGIA 96 309, 310, 312, 314, 319
SOUTH JERSEY 96 080, 081, 082, 083, 084, 197, 198
SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND 95 020, 023, 027, 028, 029
SPOKANE 97 835, 837, 838, 990, 991, 992, 994
SUNCOAST 95 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 341, 342, 346
TENNESSEE 96 370, 371, 372, 374, 379, 380, 381
TRIBORO 95 110, 112, 113, 114, 116
VAN NUYS 94 911, 913, 914, 915, 916, 930, 931, 933
WESTCHESTER 96 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 125
WESTERN NEW YORK 96 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146

* No Overnight standard. Score shown is for two-day performance.

MEXICO’S VOTE BY MAIL REGISTRATION.

MEXICO’S VOTE BY MAIL REGISTRATION. The Postal Service is supporting Mexico’s Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) to help Mexicans in the United States vote by mail in their presidential elections next year. Mexicans living abroad who wish to vote by mail can pick up applications at any Mexican embassy or consulate throughout the United States, or download them from the IFE website. Completed applications must be sent via Registered Mail for them to be accepted by the IFE in Mexico. With the $7.50 Registered Mail fee, plus 85-cents postage, applicants will pay $8.35 at USPS retail windows for every piece of IFE mail.

USPS: Get Military Holiday Mail Out By Mid-Month

KBCI News: CBS

USPS: Get Military Holiday Mail Out By Mid-Month

FedEx Readies for Busiest Day ( December 12 )

DMNEWS:

FedEx Readies for Busiest Day

USPS: HURRICANE WILMA UPDATE

HURRICANE WILMA UPDATE. Officials say it could be mid-November until power is restored to portions of Wilma-ravaged Florida as residents continue to line up daily for ice and basic necessities. Throughout the state, USPS is restoring retail and delivery service in areas where it is safe to do so.Many Florida Post Offices are running on portable generators so delivery and retail services can resume. Click here for service updates.

USPS: Katrina and Rita Related Service Updates

Updated October 28, 2005 - 2 p.m. ET
Katrina and Rita Related Service Updates

The embargo on Express Mail for Deweyville, TX (77614) is lifted.

The suspension of drop shipments for Deweyville, TX (77614) is lifted.

Drop shipments are now being accepted at the following ZIP Codes 77617, 77655, and 77704. Therefore, the alternate designated sites for the above ZIP Codes are canceled.

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.


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Alabama

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


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Louisiana

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice.

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Arabi (70032); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Chalmette (70043); Empire (70050); Meraux (70075); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Saint Bernard (70085) Venice (70091) and Violet (70092).

Partial service is available in the City of New Orleans for the following ZIP Codes - 70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130 and 70131.

Other Louisiana offices offering partial services are Slidell (70458); Delcambre (70528); Lake Charles (70605); Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643): Singer (70660); Starks (70661) and Sulphur (70663).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


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Mississippi

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


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Texas

The embargo on Express Mail for Deweyville, TX (77614) is lifted.

The suspension of drop shipments for Deweyville, TX (77614) is lifted.

Drop shipments are now being accepted at the following ZIP Codes 77617, 77655, and 77704. Therefore, the alternate designated sites for the above ZIP Codes are canceled.

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Service is no longer available at North Port Arthur Finance Unit (77642). All services for North Port Arthur Finance Unit are permanently moved to the Port Arthur Post Office (77640).

All other ZIP Codes in Texas are restored to normal operations or were unaffected.

USPS: Hurricane Wilma Service Updates

Updated October 28, 2005 - 2 p.m. ET
Hurricane Wilma Service Updates

Central Florida District

The suspension of drop shipments is lifted for Post Offices in the 329, 334 and 349 ZIP Code areas. Drop shipments to these Post Offices are available by appointment only.

Drop shipments to the West Palm Beach P&DC (334/349) will be allowed, by appointment only, after 12:00 p.m.Friday, Oct. 28. Postal facilities with surface transportation destinating at West Palm Beach P&DC should hold the mail at the origin facility until further notice.

Suncoast District

Drop shipments are being accepted by appointment only for Post Offices within ZIP Code areas 342, 338, 339 and 341.

South Florida District

Drop shipments for Post Offices within ZIP Code areas 330 through 333 are suspended until further notice.

Drop Shipments to the following plants are suspended until further notice:

Ft Lauderdale PDC (333)
Miami PDC (331)
South Florida PDC (330)
Miami ISC

This message will be updated as more information becomes available.

USPS: Katrina and Rita Related Service Updates

Updated October 25, 2005 - 4 p.m. ET
Katrina and Rita Related Service Updates

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.


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Alabama (Current as of 10/25/05 - 7:30 a.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


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Louisiana (Current as of 10/25/05 - 7:30 a.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice.

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Arabi (70032); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Chalmette (70043); Empire (70050); Meraux (70075); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Saint Bernard (70085) Venice (70091) and Violet (70092).

Partial service is available in the City of New Orleans for the following ZIP Codes - 70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130 and 70131.

Other Louisiana offices offering partial services are Slidell (70458); Delcambre (70528); Lake Charles (70605); Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643): Singer (70660); Starks (70661) and Sulphur (70663).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


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Mississippi (Current as of 10/25/05 - 7:30 a.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


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Texas (Current as of 10/25/05 - 7:30 a.m.)

The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

Alternate Drop Shipment locations for 77617, 77655, and 77704 are as follows:

Alternate Drop Location
77617 Crystal Beach
1811 Highway 87
Port Bolivar TX 77650
77655 Port Arthur
345 Lakeshore Dr.
Port Arthur TX 77640
77704 Beaumont GMF
5815 Walden Rd.
Beaumont TX 77707

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Deweyville (77614); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77642); Sabine Pass (77655) and Beaumont (77701).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

USPS: Hurricane Wilma Service Updates

Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 25, 2005 - 4 p.m. ET
Hurricane Wilma Service Updates

Central Florida District

The suspension of drop shipments for Post Offices in the 329 ZIP Code area is lifted.

Drop shipments for Post Offices within ZIP Codes areas 334 and 349 and to the West Palm Beach P&DC (334/349) remain suspended until further notice.

Facilities with surface transportation destinating at West Palm Beach P&DC should hold the mail at the origin facility until further notice.

Suncoast District

The suspension of drop shipments for Post Offices within ZIP Code areas 342 and 338 will be lifted today at 9 a.m. ET.

The suspension of drop shipments for Post Offices within ZIP Code areas 339 and 341 will be lifted effective 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 26.

The Fort Myers P&DC (339) is without power. Drop shipments for the Fort Myers P&DC are suspended until further notice.

South Florida District

Drop shipments for Post Offices within ZIP Code areas 330 through 333 are suspended until further notice.

Drop Shipments to the following plants are suspended until further notice:

Ft Lauderdale PDC (333)
Miami PDC (331)
South Florida PDC (330)
Miami ISC

Facilities with surface transportation destinating at the above facilities are requested to hold the mail at the origin office until further notice.

This message will be updated as more information becomes available.

Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 21, 2005 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Latest Service Updates

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the hurricane impacted areas. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville, TX). The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612,77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Please refer to state information below for alternate drop shipment sites for 77617, 77655, and 77704.


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The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail is lifted for ZIP Code 395, and for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701 and 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.


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The Express Mail embargo is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094 as well as all ZIP Codes in 776 and 777 with the exception of 77614.

The Express Mail embargo remains to the 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Code in 776: 77614.

Refer to state information below for full details.


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Alabama (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louisiana (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice.

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Arabi (70032); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Chalmette (70043); Empire (70050); Meraux (70075); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Saint Bernard (70085) Venice (70091) and Violet (70092).

Partial service is available in the City of New Orleans for the following ZIP Codes — 70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130 and 70131.

Other Louisiana offices offering partial services are Slidell (70458); Delcambre (70528); Lake Charles (70605); Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643): Singer (70660); Starks (70661) and Sulphur (70663).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississippi (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville).

The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612, 77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Alternate Drop Shipment locations for 77617, 77655, and 77704 are as follows:

Alternate Drop Location
77617 Crystal Beach
1811 Highway 87
Port Bolivar TX 77650
77655 Port Arthur
345 Lakeshore Dr.
Port Arthur TX 77640
77704 Beaumont GMF
5815 Walden Rd.
Beaumont TX 77707

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Deweyville (77614); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77642); Sabine Pass (77655) and Beaumont (77701).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

USPS: Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 19, 2005 - 2:30 p.m. ET
Latest Service Updates

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the hurricane impacted areas. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville, TX). The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612,77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Please refer to state information below for alternate drop shipment sites for 77617, 77655, and 77704.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail is lifted for ZIP Code 395, and for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701 and 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094 as well as all ZIP Codes in 776 and 777 with the exception of 77614.

The Express Mail embargo remains to the 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Code in 776: 77614.

Refer to state information below for full details.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louisiana (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice.

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Arabi (70032); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Chalmette (70043); Empire (70050); Meraux (70075); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Saint Bernard (70085) Venice (70091) and Violet (70092).

Partial service is available in the City of New Orleans for the following ZIP Codes — 70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130 and 70131.

Other Louisiana offices offering partial services are Slidell (70458); Delcambre (70528); Lake Charles (70605); Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643): Singer (70660); Starks (70661) and Sulphur (70663).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississippi (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas (Current as of 10/19/05 - 2:30 p.m.)

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville).

The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612, 77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Alternate Drop Shipment locations for 77617, 77655, and 77704 are as follows:

Alternate Drop Location
77617 Crystal Beach
1811 Highway 87
Port Bolivar TX 77650
77655 Port Arthur
345 Lakeshore Dr.
Port Arthur TX 77640
77704 Beaumont GMF
5815 Walden Rd.
Beaumont TX 77707

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Deweyville (77614); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77642); Sabine Pass (77655) and Beaumont (77701).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

USPS: Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 16, 2005 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Latest Service Updates

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the hurricane impacted areas. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville, TX). The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612,77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Please refer to state information below for alternate drop shipment sites for 77617, 77655, and 77704.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail is lifted for ZIP Code 395, and for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701 and 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094 as well as all ZIP Codes in 776 and 777 with the exception of 77614.

The Express Mail embargo remains to the 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Code in 776: 77614.

Refer to state information below for full details.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama (Current as of 10/13/05 - 4 p.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louisiana (Current as of 10/14/05 - 3:30 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice.

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Arabi (70032); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Chalmette (70043); Empire (70050); Meraux (70075); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Saint Bernard (70085) Venice (70091) and Violet (70092).

Partial service is available in the City of New Orleans for the following ZIP Codes — 70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130 and 70131.

Other Louisiana offices offering partial services are Slidell (70458, 70460); Mandeville (70471); Delcambre (70528); Lake Arthur (70549); Lake Charles (70605); Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643): Hackberry (70645); Singer (70660); Starks (70661); Sulphur (70663); Vinton (70668) and Westlake (70669).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississippi (Current as of 10/14/05 - 3:30 p.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas (Current as of 10/14/05 - 3:30 p.m.)

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville).

The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612, 77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Alternate Drop Shipment locations for 77617, 77655, and 77704 are as follows:

Alternate Drop Location
77617 Crystal Beach
1811 Highway 87
Port Bolivar TX 77650
77655 Port Arthur
345 Lakeshore Dr.
Port Arthur TX 77640
77704 Beaumont GMF
5815 Walden Rd.
Beaumont TX 77707

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Deweyville (77614); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77642); Sabine Pass (77655) and Beaumont (77701).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

USPS Facts

We deliver to every household and business in the United States. Every American has access to our services and pays the same postage rate regardless of geographic location. We...

Deliver mail to over 142 million homes, businesses and post office boxes in every state, city, and town in the country; including Puerto Rico, Guam, the American Virgin Islands and American Samoa

Add 1.8 million new addresses each year to our delivery network

Serve over 7 million customers daily at nearly 38,000 post offices

Have annual operating revenue of $69 billion

Deliver more than 206 billion pieces of mail a year

Collect mail from over 280,000 points—including blue street mail boxes—across the country

Pay nearly $2 billion in employee salaries and benefits every two weeks

Employ more than 700,000 career employees

Have the world's largest Intranet to communicate with our employees

Provide alternative access for our customers to purchase stamps at more than 27,500 vending machines; nearly 25,000 commercial retail outlets such as supermarkets, convenience, drug and gift stores; nearly 19,000 banking and credit union automated teller machines, and 2,500 automated postal centers located across the country

Do not receive tax dollars from the federal government for operating expenses. We use the revenue from sales of postage-related products to pay these expenses

Delivering For You.

Innovation, performance and a focus on service contributed to a record year for the United States Postal Service in 2004.

Delivering Our Best

On-time delivery of overnight-committed First-Class Mail held at a record 95% for the year—and jumped to an incredible 96% in quarter three! And service in all measured categories reached record levels.* Customers told us they saw improvements in unmeasured service categories, as well.

Satisfying Customers

We delivered for our customers, and they noticed. Independently measured customer satisfaction scores for the fourth quarter reached a new height, with 94% of residential customers rating their experience with the Postal Service as excellent, very good or good.

Staying Productive

We achieved a record fifth straight year of positive total factor productivity (TFP). These gains have provided the equivalent of $6.1 billion in cost savings. TFP includes all factors of production and measures the growth in the ratio of resources we use—the inputs—to the products and services they produce—the outputs.

We are everywhere you are.

Our network gives us access to every American household and business — we are everywhere you are.
We handle more than 44% of the world's card and letter mail volume — delivering more mail to more addresses to a larger geographical area than any other postal system in the world

We move mail using every viable means of transportation: planes, trains, trucks, cars, boats, helicopters, bicycles, and even mules

We operate a transport and delivery fleet of over 200,000 vehicles driving approximately 1.1 billion miles a year

Each letter carrier delivers about 2,300 pieces of mail a day to approximately 500 addresses

There are 86 million pounds of mail traveling through our processing centers every day

About 17% of the nation's population moves every year. The Postal Service processes more than 44 million changes of address for temporary and permanent moves

We forward over 3 billion pieces of mail a year, at no extra charge to the moving customer

We are a world leader in developing and using optical character recognition — our sorting equipment reads more than 91% of the hand-written addresses on envelopes

The Postal Service works with the State Department to accept passport applications. In 2004, nearly 4 million passport applications were accepted in post offices around the country — 60% of what the State Department processed

When fuel costs rise one-cent, our costs increase $8 million

A relationship built on trust.

The U.S. Postal Service is the most visible and personal of all federal agencies. People know they can trust the Postal Service. And, postal employees are a part of the neighborhoods they serve, making significant contributions to their communities.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, one of the country's oldest federal law enforcement agencies, protects mail users by investigating criminal acts involving the mail, postal employees and property

Sales of the Breast Cancer Research semi-postal stamp raised more than $42.6 million from the sales of nearly 600 million stamps

Sales of the Heroes semi-postal stamp raised more than $10.5 million to assist families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty on 9/11/01

We support our military troops in other parts of the world by working closely with Department of Defense sponsored agencies and by providing free shipping supplies for care packages to the men and women serving our country

Working with ADVO to reunite families, the "Have You Seen Me" detached directmail card emphasizes the power of the mail by contributing to the safe recovery of 136 missing children (as of 12/31) and returning them to their homes

Every year we sponsor National Dog Bite Week — a public safety campaign — to build community awareness through local events and media attention concerning animal attacks. This year, National Dog Bite Week will be May 15-21

Since 1993, the Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers have sponsored the nation's largest one-day food drive, raising an average of over 60 million pounds of food for the hungry every year

Every year, postal employees pledge an average of $38 million to Combined Federal Campaign

The Postal Service is a recognized leader in efforts to make the world a safer and cleaner place and has received numerous environmental awards for its practices

We:
Received seven White House "Closing the Circle" awards for environmental achievement

The Postal Service has, for five consecutive years, been named one of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities by FORTUNE magazine. In 2004, the Postal Service was ranked sixth on this list.

Every day, postal employees around the country put their own lives at risk to save the lives of the customers they serve — we call these employees "heroes". In 2004, the Postal Service recognized nearly 400 heroes

And, we’re quick, easy and convenient.

USPS.com had nearly 260 million visitors in 2004. It’s all about access. The Postal Service wants to be easily accessible and easy to do business with — whether it’s from your home, from your office or in person at our office.

The Postal Service website, usps.com, is one of the most frequently visited government sites, averaging over 21.3 million visitors every month

The Postal Store is the nation's official online Post Office, featuring sales of postage stamps and stationery, philatelic collectibles and other gift items. In 2004, stamp sales on the Postal Store exceeded $90 million and retail sales were nearly $850,000

Click-N-Ship lets customers print shipping labels with or without postage for Priority Mail, Express Mail, Global Express Guaranteed and Global Express Mail from their computers and printers

NetPost Mailing Online lets mailers create newsletters, and other correspondence and submit them, along with mailing lists, to usps.com. Electronic files are then printed, inserted into envelopes with postage, addressed, and taken to the nearest post office for mailing

NetPost CardStore lets customers create high-quality, personalized greeting cards online and have them mailed the next business day to specific address lists or back to them so the cards can be personalized. Gift cards from leading retail and restaurant chains can be included as well

Online Insurance is available for up to $200 when using Click-N-Ship

Internet Change of Address lets customers change their address, hold deliveries of their mail, sign up for long-distance phone service, order moving supplies, arrange storage, and request utility companies to stop or start service directly from their personal computers

Electronic Merchandise Return Service provides prepaid mailing labels via the Internet for convenient return of catalog and online purchases

With Carrier Pickup Online Notification, customers can go to usps.com to request package pickup at no extra charge. The Letter Carriers make the requested pickups on their routes the next delivery day

As of February 23, 2005

USPS: Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 12, 2005 - 4 p.m. ET
Latest Service Updates

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the hurricane impacted areas. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville, TX). The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612,77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Please refer to state information below for alternate drop shipment sites for 77617, 77655, and 77704.


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The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail is lifted for ZIP Code 395, and for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701 and 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.


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The Express Mail embargo is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094 as well as all ZIP Codes in 776 and 777 with the exception of 77614.

The Express Mail embargo remains to the 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Code in 776: 77614.

Refer to state information below for full details.


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Alabama (Current as of 10/12/05 - 4 p.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


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Louisiana (Current as of 10/12/05 - 4 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice. Retail and delivery services remain suspended for ZIP Codes, primarily to the south and east of New Orleans: Arabi (70032); Chalmette (70043); Meraux (70075); Saint Bernard (70085) and Violet (70092).

Offices in the in the 706 ZIP Code area with suspended delivery and retail services are: Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643) and Starks (70661).

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Empire (70050); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Venice (70091); City of New Orleans (70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130, 70131); Slidell (70458, 70460); Mandeville (70471); Delcambre (70528); Lake Arthur (70549); Lake Charles (70601, 70605, 70611 and 70615); Hackberry (70645); Singer (70660); Sulphur (70663); Vinton (70668) and Westlake (70669).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


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Mississippi (Current as of 10/12/05 - 4 p.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas (Current as of 10/12/05 - 4 p.m.)

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville).

The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612, 77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Alternate Drop Shipment locations for 77617, 77655, and 77704 are as follows:

Alternate Drop Location
77617 Crystal Beach
1811 Highway 87
Port Bolivar TX 77650
77655 Port Arthur
345 Lakeshore Dr.
Port Arthur TX 77640
77704 Beaumont GMF
5815 Walden Rd.
Beaumont TX 77707

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Nederland (77627); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77642); Sabine Pass (77655) and Beaumont (77701).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

USPS: TAKE A MEMO

TAKE A MEMO. Want to know where the mailing industry is heading? How about a heads-up on the latest trends or new mailing products and services? Subscribe to Memo to Mailers for news, tips and ideas. Send your subscription request to: Memo to Mailers, National Customer Support Center, US Postal Service, 6060 Primacy Pkwy Ste 201, Memphis TN 38188-0001.

USPS: Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 9, 2005 - 11 p.m. ET
Latest Service Updates

There is NO suspension or embargo on Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Post, or Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail or Library Mail to the hurricane impacted areas. For information on drop shipment suspensions refer to the state information below for full details.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville, TX). The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612,77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Please refer to state information below for alternate drop shipment sites for 77617, 77655, and 77704.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail is lifted for ZIP Code 395, and for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701 and 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.


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The Express Mail embargo is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094 as well as all ZIP Codes in 776 and 777 with the exception of 77614.

The Express Mail embargo remains to the 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Code in 776: 77614.

Refer to state information below for full details.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama (Current as of 10/09/05 - 11 p.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louisiana (Current as of 10/09/05 - 11 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice. Retail and delivery services remain suspended for ZIP Codes, primarily to the south and east of New Orleans: Arabi (70032); Chalmette (70043); Meraux (70075); Saint Bernard (70085) and Violet (70092).

Offices in the in the 706 ZIP Code area with suspended delivery and retail services are: Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643) and Starks (70661).

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Empire (70050); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Venice (70091); City of New Orleans (70112, 70113, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130, 70131); Slidell (70458, 70460); Mandeville (70471); Delcambre (70528); Lake Arthur (70549); Lake Charles (70601, 70605, 70611 and 70615); Hackberry (70645); Hayes (70646); Singer (70660); Sulphur (70663); Vinton (70668) and Westlake (70669).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississippi (Current as of 10/09/05 - 11 p.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas (Current as of 10/09/05 - 11 p.m.)

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 776 with the exception of 77614 (Deweyville).

The Express Mail embargo remains in effect for Deweyville, 77614 until further notice.

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for all ZIP Codes in 777.

The Suspension of Drop Shipments remains in effect for 77614 (Deweyville, TX).

The Suspension of Drop Shipments is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 776 and 777: 77611, 77612, 77613, 77615, 77616, 77617 (alternate site designated), 77619, 77622, 77623, 77624, 77625, 77626, 77627, 77629, 77630, 77639, 77640, 77649, 77650, 77651, 77655 (alternate site designated), 77656, 77657, 77659, 77660, 77661, 77662, 77663, 77664, 77665, 77701, 77702, 77703, 77704 (alternate site designated), 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708.

Alternate Drop Shipment locations for 77617, 77655, and 77704 are as follows:

Alternate Drop Location
77617 Crystal Beach
1811 Highway 87
Port Bolivar TX 77650
77655 Port Arthur
345 Lakeshore Dr.
Port Arthur TX 77640
77704 Beaumont GMF
5815 Walden Rd.
Beaumont TX 77707

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Shepherd (77371); Saratoga (77585); Buna (77612); China (77613); Deweyville (77614); Evadale (77615); Fred (77616); Gilchrist (77617); Groves (77619); Nederland (77627); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77640, 77642); Sabine Pass (77655); Sour Lake (77659); and Beaumont (77701, 77702, 77703, 77705, 77706, 77708 and 77713).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

USPS: POSTAL ANNEX

POSTAL ANNEX. A temporary postal annex has been established adjacent to the New Orleans Main Post Office in the shadow of the Superdome to provide customers in certain ZIP Codes with over-the-counter mail service.

USPS: ROYAL TREATMENT

ROYAL TREATMENT. It was the royal treatment for residents and business owners on Royal Street and other areas in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans yesterday — as mail carriers returned and re-established delivery.

Carriers were treated like royalty too. They were greeted with applause, hugs and customers taking their photos to mark another step back to normalcy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Service Updates Related to the Gulf Coast Hurricanes

Updated October 4, 2005 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Latest Service Updates

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail is lifted for ZIP Code 395, and for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701 and 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Express Mail embargo is lifted for the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70030, 70031, 70032, 70036, 70037, 70039, 70047, 70049, 70051, 70052, 70053, 70057, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70068, 70070, 70071, 70072, 70078, 70079, 70080, 70084, 70086, 70087, 70090, 70094.

The Express Mail embargo remains to the 701, 706, 776, and 777 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Refer to state information below for full details.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama (Current as of 10/04/05 - 3 p.m.)

All Alabama offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 365 and 366. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Louisiana (Current as of 10/04/05 - 3:30 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Louisiana.

Effective immediately, the Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in Louisiana’s 701 and 706 ZIP Code areas as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in ZIP 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

The suspension of Standard Mail (Letters and Flats) and Periodicals Mail remains in effect for ZIP Codes 701, 706 and the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

Suspension of retail, delivery service and drop shipments to Louisiana ZIP Codes 701, 706 and parts of 700.

Effective immediately, drop shipments are suspended to offices in Louisiana's 701, and 706 ZIP Code areas, as well as the following 5-Digit ZIP Codes in 700: 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70050, 70075, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092.

DADC Periodicals Drops for ADC New Orleans LA 700

Periodicals and news publications formerly dropped at the DADC entry level into ADC New Orleans LA 700 should now be dropped at the Bulk Mail Center in Memphis, TN, 38999 — excluding any mail for ZIP Codes where service is suspended.

To receive the best service for these publications, it is strongly recommended that direct containers for 325, 365, 366 and 394 be drop shipped into the appropriate destination SCF entry points (DSCF) for the following locations as listed in DMM L005:

325 PENSACOLA FL 325
365, 366 SCF MOBILE AL 365
394 HATTIESBURG MS 394
703 HOUMA LA 703
705 LAFAYETTE LA 705
707, 708 SCF BATON ROUGE LA 707

New Orleans Processing and Distribution Center operations remain suspended until further notice. Retail and delivery services remain suspended for the following ZIP Codes in the City of New Orleans (70112, 70113, 70116, 70117, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70124, 70126, 70127, 70129, 70130) and the following offices and ZIP Codes, primarily to the south and east of New Orleans: Arabi (70032); Boothville (70038); Braithwaite (70040); Buras (70041); Chalmette (70043); Empire (70050); Meraux (70075); Pointe A La Hache (70082); Port Sulphur (70083); Saint Bernard (70085); Venice (70091); Violet (70092) and Grand Isle (70358).

Offices in the in the 706 ZIP Code area with suspended delivery and retail services are: Lake Charles (70601, 70605, 70611 and 70615) Cameron (70631); Creole (70632); Grand Chenier (70643); Singer (70660); Starks (70661); Sulphur (70663) and Vinton (70668).

Partial service is available at: Metairie (70005); City of New Orleans (70115, 70118); Slidell (70458, 70460); Mandeville (70471); Delcambre (70528); Lake Arthur (70549); Hackberry (70645); Hayes (70646) and Westlake (70669).

All other Louisiana offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.


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Mississippi (Current as of 10/04/05 - 3:30 p.m.)

Partial services are available at the following Mississippi offices: Gulfport (39501, 39507); Bay St. Louis (39520); Stennis Space Center (39529); Biloxi (39530); Kiln (39556); Lakeshore (39558); Pascagoula (39567); Pass Christian (39571), Pearlington (39572) and Waveland (39576).

All other Mississippi offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.

Drop shipments into ZIP Codes 395 are now being accepted by appointment only.

Drop shipments are resumed by appointment only in ZIP Codes 395, 369, 393, 394 and 396. Drop shipments for these zones will not be accepted without appointments.


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Texas (Current as of 10/04/05 - 3:30 p.m.)

Express Mail embargoed to parts of Texas.

The Postal Service is not accepting Express Mail for destinations in the 776 and 777 ZIP Code areas.

Suspension of Drop Shipments into ZIP Codes 776 and 777.

All drop shipments into ZIP Codes 776 and 777 are suspended until further notice. Under no circumstances should drop shipments for these ZIP Codes be entered at alternate sites..

Partial service is available at the following Texas ZIP Codes:

Goodrich (77335); Leggett (77350); Pointblank (77364); Romayor (77368); Shepherd (77371); Anahuac (77514); Batson (77519); Daisetta (77533); Saratoga (77585); Wallisville (77597); Bridge City (77611); Buna (77612); China (77613); Deweyville (77614); Evadale (77615); Fred (77616); Gilchrist (77617); Groves (77619); Hamshire (77622); High Island (77623); Hillister (77624); Kountze (77625); Mauriceville (77626); Nederland (77627); Nome (77629); Orange (77630, 77632); Orangefield (77639); Port Arthur (77640, 77642); Port Bolivar (77650); Port Neches (77651); Sabine Pass (77655); Silsbee (77656); Lumberton (77657); Sour Lake (77659); Spurger (77660); Stowell (77661); Vidor (77662); Village Mills (77663); Warren (77664); Winnie (77665); and Beaumont (77701, 77702, 77703, 77705, 77706, 77707, 77708 and 77713).

All other Texas offices are unaffected or have returned to full service.