POSTAL SERVICE ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS FOR OFFICES WHERE SERVICE REMAINS SUSPENDED

	POSTAL NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 29, 2005	Contact: Dave Lewin 713-226-3278 News Release No 05-98 www.usps.com

POSTAL SERVICE ANNOUNCES DISTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS
FOR OFFICES WHERE SERVICE REMAINS SUSPENDED

HOUSTON, TX. – The Postal Service announced today its plans to make Social Security checks available to residents served by post offices where service is suspended due to the affects of Hurricane Rita.

ZIP Code Area 776

Social Security checks normally delivered to residents and Post Office box customers served at the Groves (77619), Nederland (77627), Port Arthur (77640), N. Port Arthur Station (77642), Port Neches (77651) and Sabine Pass (77655) post offices will be available at the Beaumont Main Post Office at 5815 Walden Rd. on Friday, Sept. 30, thru Monday, Oct. 3. from 9 a.m. thru 4 p.m. The Beaumont Main Post Office will be open on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. thru 4 p.m.

Residents served by these post offices can also pick up all other mail addressed to them at the Beaumont Main Post Office until further notice. Proper identification from the individual named on all Social Security checks will be required, and security will be provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Postal Police.

Other temporary mail distribution locations in ZIP Code Area 776 are as follows:
Until further notice, all mail, including Social Security checks, for customers served by the Gilchrest Post Office (77617) and High Island Post Office (77623) will be available at the Crystal Beach Station (77650) will be available daily, beginning Friday, Sept. 30, from noon until 3 p.m. All mail, including Social Security checks, for customers served by the Bridge City Post Office (77611) will be available at the Orange Post Office (77630) beginning Friday, Sept. 30 from noon until 3 p.m. This includes Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2.

Customers served by the Lumberton Branch (77657) can receive all available mail, including Social Security checks, at the Lumberton Branch daily from noon until 3 p.m. until further notice.

All other ZIP Code area 776 post offices are open from noon until 3 p.m. until further notice to provide mail over the counter, including Social Security checks, to residents, and to offer limited retail services. Delivery of mail remains suspended throughout the entire 776 ZIP Code area.

ZIP Code Area 773

All mail, including Social Security checks, for customers served by the Shepherd Post Office (77371) will be available for customer pickup at the Coldspring Post Office (77331) on Friday thru Monday (including Saturday and Sunday) from noon until 3 p.m.

ZIP Code Area 777

For the city of Beaumont, residents served by the Beaumont Main Post Office (77707), Downtown Station (77704), South End Station (77705), and Tobe Hahn Station (77706) can receive their Social Security checks and other mail over the counter every day from Friday, Sept. 30 thru Monday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Beaumont Main Post Office. Delivery of mail remains suspended throughout the entire 777 ZIP Code area. As of Tuesday, Oct. 4, residents served by South End Station and Tobe Hahn Station can receive their mail over the counter at these locations from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

“We’re continuing to collect, process, and deliver mail for customers, and despite widespread power outages, we will expand services and provide alternate locations for affected post offices throughout ZIP Code area 776,” said Cliff Rucker, district manager for the Houston District. “Our first priority remains the safety of our employees and customers, and we’re moving quickly to deploy alternate power sources, make facility repairs, and open for business.”

Throughout the entire region, officials have designated postal employees as “essential government personnel,” clearing the way for them to reenter the area immediately. Postal employees should continue to check their work reporting status by contacting the USPS National Emergency Notification Hotline at 1-888-363-7462.

Services will remain suspended in any area where mandatory evacuation orders are in place, including delivery, collection, Post Office box and retail services, and mail processing. Service updates will continue to be provided. For the latest information on USPS service updates, check: http://www.usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.htm.

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