USPS Is Suspending Services in 6 States Effective Immediately

In December news releases for Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, the Postal Service asked customers to help keep its letter carriers safe as they deliver mail this winter. It warned that service could be suspended from homes if streets and sidewalks become too hazardous for workers or snow piles up against mailboxes.

California

Over the past couple years, the United States Postal Service has faced numerous difficulties. These include mail theft and delivery delays, as well as potential hazards from weather events.

In many cases, postal agencies must suspend services as a safety measure. They do this only after conducting an extensive review of all factors involved - such as employee and customer safety, along with its effect on operations.

Recent examples include the wildfires raging through Northern California. Some of these fires have been so large that the USPS was forced to close down several post offices in Siskiyou County due to lack of supplies.

Some of the affected facilities include a post office in Klamath River, Happy Camp, Scott Bar and Seiad Valley - all part of an expansive regional wildfire that has been burning since July 29th, according to CNN.

Although the USPS has shut down these facilities, residents in Yreka, California can still access their mail at the local post office. The agency has updated its Residential Service Disruptions alert page to let people know they can pick up their packages and mail from that location even if their post office is closed.

Natural disasters have had an impact on postal service in the past. Back in April, USPS suspended mail delivery in Santa Monica, California after an attack against a postal carrier there. Similar situations occurred in Greenfield, Indiana and Des Moines, Iowa due to attacks against postal workers by loose dogs.

Iowa

The United States Postal Service strives to deliver mail on time to all Americans, but sometimes this may not be possible due to natural disasters or power outages. When these obstacles arise, the USPS alerts customers via its online service alert tool of any service disruptions.

As of October 11, the USPS is temporarily suspending mail and retail operations at a Grandview, Iowa facility. Regular customers of this location can still retrieve their mail and access retail services at nearby Wapello post office or Letts and Fruitland facilities.

Another facility in Siskiyou County, California has been evacuated due to a fire. The McKinney Fire swept through the region on July 29.

According to eSeller365, four post offices in Siskiyou County were affected by the fire: Klamath River, Happy Camp, Scott Bar and Seiad Valley. This is the second time in recent weeks that USPS facilities have had to close down in California due to fires; however this time it caused a complete suspension of mail delivery services.

In both instances, the USPS had to temporarily cease mail services in order to safeguard its employees and customers. According to a recent press release, this decision is made only after "careful consideration," with delivery disruptions only as a last resort.

It has been a hectic year for the USPS, who have been dealing with an ever-increasing threat of mail theft. Though some issues have been addressed, there remain numerous unsolved difficulties that could continue in the future. These include:

Michigan

A major winter storm has created major havoc in the Midwest, forcing the USPS to close several post offices there. According to an alert issued recently, 51 facilities are closed across Michigan's Great Lakes state - including Franklin and Tecumseh - due to this storm.

USPS is doing their best to maintain delivery services on the ground and by air, but it's no small feat. This is especially true in Midwest communities still suffering damage caused by Hurricane Ike that has left many without power or water.

Though the USPS has reopened some facilities, it will still be some time before customers can count on receiving their mail promptly and undamaged. As a precautionary measure, customers are asked to take extra care when sending packages through the mail and clear sidewalks, stairs and mailboxes of snow or ice for safe delivery.

Saving time and money is the best solution; utilize your local post office's e-service, which can be accessed from any computer or smartphone. Alternatively, contact the postmaster in your area to determine when and if your mail will be delivered again.

Minnesota

Due to the dangerously cold weather caused by the polar vortex, the USPS is suspending services in six states: Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and western Pennsylvania.

Residents in these areas should regularly check the Postal Service website for up-to-date information about whether mail is being delivered or if their local post office is open. Furthermore, the agency urges customers to clear sidewalks and stairways of snow so that mailmen can safely deliver packages during severe winter conditions.

The Postal Service strives to provide service as quickly and safely as possible, but operational issues do arise occasionally. To stay informed on these issues, it's a wise practice to sign up for their service alerts tool which will alert you when mail isn't being delivered or your local post office is closed.

Residential customers who depend on their mailboxes for mail delivery should take special note of the Postal Service website link to the National Postal Service Disruption Website, which provides real-time updates about your post office's operations.

Though the postal service website states that deliveries will resume "as soon as possible," they caution that delivery delays could continue for several more days. Furthermore, during this period they will also suspend pickups from businesses and residences.

When mailing items that require signature on delivery, the postman/woman will substitute the addressee's signature with their own and enter it into a handheld device or delivery manifest. Furthermore, they'll send the addressee either a text message or telephone call confirming that their item is available at a nearby post office.

In the event of a service suspension to a particular country, outbound international letter-post, parcel-post and Express Mail Service (EMS) items will be cancelled and returned to sender at their destination. Unless otherwise specified, service updates to a country do not affect delivery of military and diplomatic mail.

North Dakota

The USPS has informed customers of a temporary suspension of services at post offices across six states, effective immediately. These include facilities located in California, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The announcement comes in light of a recent winter storm which disrupted delivery routes and caused mail service delays for some. But it also serves as a reminder to customers that weather-related issues could impact postal operations in the future as well.

According to the USPS, service adjustments may be made when "unusual circumstances" such as staffing changes, severe weather or natural disasters arise. These could affect how mail is delivered or what hours mail can be picked up and delivered.

In North Dakota, it appears the USPS has temporarily suspended services at the Stanton Post Office in Stanton. They have announced that mail will be rerouted to Hazen Post Office - 13 and 1/2 miles away from where the closed facility once stood.

Unfortunately, there is no estimated date when Stanton will reopen and USPS has reiterated that they cannot be held responsible for lost or delayed mail; customers should check with their local post office to determine how they can receive their packages.

Residents have been vocal in voicing their dissatisfaction and demanding answers to these mail problems, especially since packages have gone missing in areas where they depend on them. They also hope to meet with USPS management to discuss solutions.

North Dakota lawmakers and local leaders are advocating for improved mail delivery in rural communities. Senator John Hoeven recently wrote to USPS with his concerns regarding delivery issues in western North Dakota, encouraging employees to share stories about their struggles.