Hurricane update — respond, reconnect, re-establish

September 2005 Issue 35

Holidays are approaching quickly!!! The United States Postal Service has announced the deadlines for shipping packages to Military APO and FPO addresses as well as for international destinations.

If you would like this form to print out and post please send us an e-mail to centralmailservices@ksu.edu or give Connie a call at 2-7751.

Military Mail Addressed To	First-Class Mail Letters/Cards	Priority Mail	Parcel Post
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090–092	Dec 10	Dec 10	Nov 12
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093	Dec 5	Dec 5	Nov 12
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094–098	Dec 10	Dec 10	Nov 12
APO/FPO AA ZIP 340	Dec 10	Dec 10	Nov 12
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962–966	Dec 10	Dec 10	Nov 12

International Mail Addressed to	Airmail Letters and Cards	Airmail Parcel Post	Economy (Surface)
Africa	Dec 5	Dec 5	Oct 14
Asia / Pacific Rim	Dec 12	Dec 12	Oct 28
Australia / New Zealand	Dec 12	Dec 12	Oct 28
Canada	Dec 12	Dec 12	Nov 18
Caribbean	Dec 12	Dec 12	Nov 4
Central and South America	Dec 5	Dec 5	Oct 28
Mexico	Dec 12	Dec 12	Nov 4
Europe	Dec 12	Dec 12	Nov 4
Middle East	Dec 12	Dec 12	Oct 21

Contract Post Office Corner

With the holidays just around the corner the Contract Post Office is gearing up. Previously in this newsletter we listed the deadline dates that need to be met for letters and packages that are going to our Troops overseas or to friends and family abroad. We have supplies and customs forms available.

We also have a variety of Holiday stamps available. Pictured are the current Holiday stamps that are available.

If you would like to order larger quantities of any stamps that we offer please contact the Contract Post Office at 2-6306.

CAMPUS ENVELOPES

Central Mail Services is requesting departments that have extra large and small campus envelopes to rubber band them and place them at the mail box for the CMS carrier to pick up. We are requesting both large and small campus envelopes. If you have questions please contact Connie at 2-7751.

The staff of Central Mail Service and the Contract Post Office would like to join the United States Postal Service in expressing our concern for the devastation and share encouragement that life will continue to improve and resume in the stricken areas in the Gulf Coast region. The following article was printed in the Postal Bulletin published on September 15, 2005.

Hurricane update

respond, reconnect, re-establish

Helping customers reconnect: Houston Retail Specialist Al Alvarez helps a customer complete a COA form. An eight-person USPS team served thousands of Louisiana evacuees at the Astrodome and the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The Postal Service's® hurricane response has focused on getting mail to displaced customers across the country, finding and helping employees uprooted by the storm and re-establishing service to customers in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The Postal Service has been successful in letting displaced customers know that USPS® can get their mail to them - including Social Security checks, payroll checks and prescriptions by mail - no matter where they are, by providing their temporary address.

Reconnecting employees

Like many businesses in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the Postal Service is reaching its employees through a toll-free number - 877-477-3273 - so employees can notify the Postal Service of their location. Employees who call are connected to a USPS Call Center agent, who will collect the employee's information.

Reestablishing service

Greenburg, LA, Rural Carrier Associate Shawne Redmond hands a check to a customer from the Hammond, LA, Post Office dock.

When and where it is safe to do so, the Postal Service is re-entering storm-damaged areas to reopen Post Offices to restore mail delivery and service, and establish mobile retail centers to sere customer needs in damaged areas.

Employees are asked to help find displaced employees

Postmaster General Jack Potter has asked employees: if you know of any Postal Service employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina, ask them to call 877-477-3273.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many of our employees in the Gulf Coast area suffered severe personal losses. In their efforts to reach safety and find shelter, many of them had to leave the areas where they lived and worked. We've heard from many of them - in locations all around the country.

"If you hear from - or about - Katrina-displaced employees locally," the PMG said, "please reach out to them. We want to be sure they're safe. We want to be sure they get paid. We want to hear from them at 877-477-3273."

USPS employees help displaced customers rebuild their lives

At right, Vicki Silva from the Larkin Smith, MS, Post Office, checks IDs and distributes Social Security checks to residents affected by Katrina.

USPS employees a- cross the country are pitching in to help the victims of hurricane Katrina - whether they are displaced co-workers, evacuees, rescue and clean-up workers or police and military personnel on the scene.

In addition to the intense work taking place in the Southwest and Southeast Areas, all other USPS areas are lending a hand, helping get the word out that anyone relocated can file a Change of Address (COA) and how affected USPS employees can check in with the Postal Service.

As evacuees pour into shelters being established in 23 states, the Postal Service is there to assist them - helping with COA cards and - to those who have already filed a COA - delivering checks, medicines and other vital mail.

Change of address

Customers concerned about filing a temporary address change should be assured that USPS has the ability to chain their address changes together, effectively keeping their forwarded mail moving through the mail stream until they reach their final destination. But we can't begin forwarding their mail until they file a change of address. Encourage all displaced customers to file a change of address with us as soon as possible, even if they are going to be at their current temporary location for a brief time.