Hurricane Sandy: October 26 Update

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The South Florida District Emergency Management Team continues to track Hurricane Sandy through National Hurricane Center Advisories. Their priority is the safety and well being of all employees.  At 11 a.m., Sandy is a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 80 mph with higher gusts.   The National Hurricane Center reports that some weakening is possible during the next day or so.  Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center; tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 275 miles.  The wind field is expected to grow in size during the next couple of days. The tropical storm watch for the Florida Keys south of Ocean Reef to Craig Key and for Florida Bay has been discontinued. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Florida East Coast from Ocean Reef to Flagler Beach, and Lake Okeechobee.  A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.At this time, all postal operations are normal throughout the South Florida District.  Employees are reminded to call the USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline for up-to-date information on work schedules and facility status.
USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline1-888-363-7462
If you are a deaf or hard-of-hearing employee, here’s how to contact the Postal Service in an emergency: If you have a mobile phone with a relay app such as Sorenson, Sprint, Purple, etc., call the voice hotline number through your phone’s relay service or contact us online via the Federal IP Relay at www.federalip.us.  If you use TDD, call the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339.

Domestic & International Mailing, Shipping Dates for Holiday Season

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Domestic Mail Class/Product	Dates
First-Class Mail Service	Dec. 20
Priority Mail Service	Dec. 21
Express Mail Service*	Dec. 22
Parcel Post Service	Dec. 14
Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship	Dec. 19
Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Drop Ship	Dec. 21

*Some Express Mail destinations may have extended service commitments.

             International Mail 

Destination	Global Express Guaranteed Service *	Express Mail Service	Priority Mail Service	First-Class Mail International Service
Africa	Dec. 19	Dec. 11	Dec. 3	Dec. 3
Asia/Pacific Rim	Dec. 18	Dec. 15	Dec. 10	Dec. 10
Australia/New Zealand	Dec. 18	Dec. 15	Dec. 10	Dec. 10
Canada	Dec. 20	Dec. 17	Dec. 13	Dec. 10
Caribbean	Dec. 19	Dec. 15	Dec. 13	Dec. 10
Central & South America	Dec. 19	Dec. 11	Dec. 3	Dec. 3
Mexico	Dec. 20	Dec. 15	Dec. 10	Dec. 10
Europe	Dec. 19	Dec. 15	Dec. 13	Dec. 10
Middle East	Dec. 19	Dec. 15	Dec. 13	Dec. 10

*GXG Notes:  Cutoff date does not takeinto account time needed for customs clearance. 2.  Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outsidemajor cities. 3.  Last date to ship to Afghanistanis December 18. Last date to ship to Iraqis December 17. GXG does not deliver to APO andFPO addresses.

Hurricane Sandy: Oct 26, 2 pm Update

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TheSouth Florida District Emergency Management Team continues to track HurricaneSandy through National Hurricane Center Advisories. Their priority is thesafety and well being of all employees.  The2 p.m. National Hurricane Center Advisory states that Sandy remains a Category 1 hurricane, weakeningto 75 mph with higher gusts.  Hurricaneforce winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center; tropical storm forcewinds extend outward up to 275 miles. The wind field is expected to grow in size during the next couple ofdays. The tropical storm watch for theFlorida Keys south of Ocean Reef to Craig Key and for Florida Bayhas been discontinued.   With theexception of Lake Okeechobee*, the tropical storm warning has been discontinuedfor South Florida.Sandy is located about 30 miles north-northeast of Great Abaco Island in the Bahamasor about 430 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.Allpostal operations remain normal throughout the South Florida District.  Employees are reminded to call the USPSNational Employee Emergency Hotline for up-to-date information on workschedules and facility status. USPS NationalEmployee Emergency Hotline
1-888-363-7462
If you are a deaf or hard-of-hearing employee, here’s how tocontact the Postal Service in an emergency:  If you have a mobile phone with a relay appsuch as Sorenson, Sprint, Purple, etc., call the voice hotline number throughyour phone’s relay service or contact us online via the Federal IP Relay at www.federalip.us.  If you use TDD, call the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339.

Hurricane Sandy - October 27 Update: South Florida under Wind Advisory

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The South Florida District Emergency Management Team continues to track Hurricane Sandy through National Hurricane Center Advisories. Their priority is the safety and well being of all employees.  During the night, Sandy was downgraded to a tropical storm, but in the 8 am National Hurricane Advisory, was upgraded to a hurricane with winds at 75 mph and higher gusts.  Currently, Sandy is approximately 335 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina.  Sandy is a very large tropical cyclone with hurricane force winds extending outward up to 100 miles, primarily southwest of the center, and tropical storm force winds extending outward up to 450 miles from the center. While there are no tropical storm or hurricane watches or warnings for South Florida, the National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory in effect until 8 pm this evening.  A wind advisory means that sustained winds of at least 30 mph or frequent gusts in excess of 35 mph are expected.  Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.  Loose objects also can be blown around by winds this strong.  The District Emergency Management Team asks that all employees exercise caution while at work and at home.All postal operations remain normal throughout the South Florida District. 

EAP: Gratitude ePromotion

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As we approach the “Thanksgiving” holiday, it seems a fitting time to pause and reflect on the value that being grateful can play in our lives. Gratitude, at first blush, is a familiar and simple emotion. We receive a gift – from a friend, a family member – and we feel grateful and appreciative. Or we have a near miss with a car running a red light and our first reaction is a quick breath of gratitude that something terrible did not happen. What if practicing gratitude had the power to be a foundation for your sense of well-being and happiness?An ePromotion is a series of emails sharing brief information to help you actively engage in a topic. The EAP invites you to sign up to participate by responding to this invitation. In the “Gratitude” ePromotion, you will receive emails Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays over the next 4 weeks. You may use your postal or home email address and your participation is strictly confidential. Please feel free to share “Gratitude” with your co-workers and family members and encourage them to sign up as well. This ePromotion is designed to help you experience the power of gratitude as you prepare for the coming holiday season. We will explore the benefits for your body, mind, and emotions. Think of these emails as your daily dose of “vitamin G!” If you would like more information or to sign up, please contact me by email at vrperezgonzalez@magellanhealth.com or by calling 305-594-2784.

Experts: Prop 37 Could Encourage Lawsuits

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The Santa Rosa Press- Democrat has a story on the potential for lawsuits if Prop 37- the genetically engineered foods labeling initiative- passes and survives legal challenges. Just think Jason Singleton.

The primary targets, Muller said, would be the giant food makers, but retail grocers also might find themselves in the crosshairs.
"It's easier to win," Muller said. "It's easier to convince the mom-and-pop stores to settle than to convince Monsanto."

Parcel Partners

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Have you ever heard the phrase, “the whole is worth more than the sum of its parts?” This is particularly true for businesses that have a prominent name supported by a strong reputation. What happens when two of these businesses collaborate on a project? Would that increase their value even more? This is what businesses are hoping for when they partner with Amazon.com to install parcel lockers in their stores.

Amazon.com is looking to install more parcel lockers in select locations across the nation. It offers the shipping option to customers who purchase smaller items as a convenient selling point in doing business with the Internet-based retail giant. Many businesses such as convenience stores, drugstores and grocery stores are welcoming the additional chance at increasing revenue as well as foot traffic into their businesses.

USPS has added its own version of parcel lockers, called gopost, in limited test locations to increase shipping convenience for its customers. Gopost offers three different locker sizes to accommodate different package dimensions and allows customers to pick up packages at a time more convenient for them.

Businesses that have a bank of parcel lockers at or near their location have the potential to enjoy increased sales from the additional foot traffic in the area. Establishing other partnerships in the mailing industry could be an effective way for two businesses to generate more revenue by working together than either business could make alone.

What other businesses do you think USPS could partner with to expand its revenue?