Waiting on an important letter or package? It could be a few more days.
The U.S. Postal Service continues to face disruptions in Southwestern Pennsylvania after roughly a foot of snow buried the region Sunday, according to Mark Wahl, a spokesman for the agency.
Carriers are skipping some homes because of treacherous road conditions or unreachable mailboxes. The Postal Service must balance its duty to deliver the mail with the safety of its carriers, Wahl said.
“We want them to return home the same way they come to work,” he added.
Wahl said he wasn’t aware of any on-the-job injuries suffered by mail carriers because of the recent snowstorm. A truck did, however, get stuck Tuesday morning in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood before nearby residents came to the rescue.
UPS said pickup and delivery delays are possible in areas affected by the snowstorm or serviced by its main hub in Louisville, Ky. Contingency plans are in place to make sure shipments arrive as quickly as possible, according to the company website.
FedEx expected delivery disruptions continuing throughout the week, the carrier said on its website.
An Amazon spokesperson said the company is carefully monitoring weather conditions. Its drivers are reminded to put their safety ahead of all other concerns, the spokesperson added.
To make deliveries possible, the Postal Service advises customers to shovel snow from around curbside mailboxes. If they get mail delivered to their door, they should clear all sidewalks, steps, overhangs and railings of snow and ice.
Carriers may attempt to deliver mail in urban areas if these requests aren’t met. But in rural communities, the Postal Service requires residents to clear a path in order to receive mail.
People unable to remove the snow can go to the Postal Service website and request their mail be held until the weather improves.
The agency also offers Informed Delivery, a free service that provides frequent updates and photos of a parcel’s progress across the country, as well as traditional package tracking.
