Hurricane Sandy disrupts USPS services, alters address verification
New York City and coastal New Jersey residents are beginning to pick up the pieces and rebuild what Hurricane Sandy destroyed. Sadly, as victims come to grips with the disaster and return to daily life, many don't have a home to go to, impacting normal activities like collecting mail.
To help victims and mail senders alike, the U.S. Postal Service issued a press release for the relocated and evacuated victims on how to find their mail and how senders should contact them.
One of the options was applying for a temporary change of address, which can be used for up to 15 days, meaning mail senders will have to keep informed with the latest in postal mailing software.
Another option for the displaced is general delivery. Without a permanent address, general delivery will allow for mail pick up based on recipients' ZIP codes. Senders should address mail as general delivery in lieu of an address and include the city, state and ZIP+4, example, 12345-9999.
A third option for hurricane victims who need to get their mail is the premium forwarding service, where mail can be sent to the same address mail senders have in their records, whereupon mail will be forwarded to the individuals' current address.