RITA!
Category 4 storm heading for Gulf Coast of Texas
Just weeks after Hurricane Katrina ripped into the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with devastating and life-altering consequences, Hurricane Rita is barreling toward the Gulf Coast of Texas with the potential to cause as much or more damage.
Satellite image of Hurricane Rita taken at 4:15 a.m. ET today. The Category 5 storm is packing 170 mph winds as it heads for the Gulf Coast of Texas.
As the Postal Service prepares for its arrival, the safety of our employees remains our primary concern. USPS employees are expected to follow all mandatory evacuation orders issued by local, state or federal officials within any locations that include their home or work assignment. Postal operations are suspended in any areas under mandatory evacuation orders and will remain suspended until the evacuation order has been lifted.
“The safety and well-being of our employees and customers remain our top priorities,” said Houston District Manager Cliff Rucker. “By following mandatory evacuation orders, you’re protecting yourself and your loved ones — and you’re making it far easier for us to restore service to our customers when we can.”
“It’s the same way that we want our employees to leave work as safely as they arrive,” said Rio Grande District Manager Larry James. “We want them to come out of this hurricane safe and sound — following mandatory evacuation orders will go a long way toward making that happen. Rio Grande employees have always risen to the occasion and I’m sure this will be no exception.””
