The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is serious about the safety of its workers and its customers. So when unsafe conditions arise—like an aggressive animal or hazardous weather—the agency is quick to adjust operations accordingly. This can involve deliveries being halted, or the temporary shutdown of a local post office, and certain communities are now experiencing the latter. Read on to find out more about the latest USPS closures.
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The USPS is suspending services in two states.
iStockThe Postal Service strives to keep operations running as usual, with deliveries six days a week and post offices open during normal business hours. When these things aren't possible, the agency makes sure to keep customers in the loop through its Service Alerts website. With this online tool, you can check for "current, frequently-updated information about whether mail is being delivered to your neighborhood or if your local post office is open," the USPS explains.
Right now, postal customers are dealing with new disruptions in more than one state. According to the latest updates to the Service Alerts, the USPS just suspended services in Michigan and Rhode Island.
The post office in Michigan has been closed for safety reasons.
iStockThe first suspension affects certain customers in Michigan. In a May 17 alert, the Postal Service announced it is pausing service at a facility in Farwell, Michigan. According to the agency, the Farwell Post Office has had its "operations temporarily suspended due to a safety concern."
Best Life reached out to the USPS to get more information on the safety concern, and we will update this story with their response. But according to local news reports, this post office was closed for the same reason another Michigan facility was recently shuttered.
The USPS announced on May 15 that the Lake Post Office was "closed to the public due to safety concerns" as well. According to 9&10 News, both facilities have been shut down after employees discovered mercury leaking out of a package at the Lake Post Office. The Clare County Emergency Management Office said that the two locations are being investigated and cleaned up because of the spill, the outlet reported.
The Rhode Island facility is facing a different issue.
ShutterstockOnly one post office in Rhode Island is currently off-limits to the public, however. In a May 22 alert, the Postal Service announced that it had suspended operations at a facility in Chepachet, Rhode Island. The Chepachet Post Office is "temporarily closed due to water damage," according to the agency.
Best Life reached out to the USPS for more information on the water damage, and we will update this story with their response.
There is no information on when these post offices will reopen.
iStockCustomers in Michigan and Rhode Island could be dealing with post office closures for a few days or considerably longer than that—there's no telling just yet. The USPS hasn't provided any timeline for when the Farwell, Lake, or Chepachet facilities will reopen to the public. But the agency has directed customers to alternative service locations they can use during these closures.
For the two Michigan post offices, the Postal Service says "customers' packages and P.O. Box mail will be available at the Clare Post Office." This facility is about five miles away from the Farwell Post Office and 15 miles away from the Lake Post Office. Customers can also visit other nearby facilities, like the Lake George Post Office, Rosebush Post Office, Weidman Post Office, or Harrison Post Office, for retail services.
For the Rhode Island closure, customers are being advised to get mail and retail services at the Harmony Post Office. This facility is about a six-minute drive away from the Chepachet Post Office.
