ASHEVILLE, NC — Hurricane Helene was a catastrophic natural disaster that has disrupted services and operations for many organizations – including the Postal Service’s ability to deliver mail and packages – throughout the entire Southeast region. The Postal Service is working closely with other federal agencies, including FEMA, to assist in the response. The Postal Service's primary focus is to maintain the safety and security of our employees and to ensure that Americans receive their mail and packages as swiftly as possible.

USPS Operations In North Carolina Are Resuming But Full Recovery May Take Time
Our operations team has worked around the clock to restore operations wherever safely possible however there is significant work to be done to deliver a backlog of mail and packages and reopen routes in the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. The full recovery of service to the area may stretch forward for some time.

As of Oct. 9, all USPS North Carolina processing facilities and most retail and delivery units have reopened. Where retail and delivery units remain inaccessible, we have relocated operations to nearby units and are further deploying mobile retail units to make sure we can provide retail and delivery services to impacted communities as quickly as possible.

We remain committed to delivering mail wherever it's feasible and safe, constantly adjusting our operations for a swift restoration of services. For the latest updates on our services, please visit our Service Alerts page here. 

Impact On North Carolina USPS Operations
The Postal Service operates 838 facilities in North Carolina. Local areas using three-digit ZIP Codes beginning in 286, 287, and 288 were the most severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. USPS teams have been dispatched to affected areas where possible and are working to get into other areas which remain inaccessible so far. As of Oct. 9:

• 97 postal facilities reopened, however, 21 still remain closed. The operations from these closed facilities are in the process of being transferred to other locations.
• 1 facility destroyed: Micaville (PO box office) 28755
• 20 facilities with flooding, 16 facilities without power
• All impacted delivery offices are attempting delivery where safe to do so
• 25 Retail Offices offering cash-only transactions.
• Sunday delivery made in some affected offices.

• Delayed mail that was accumulated prior to and immediately after the Hurricane has now been delivered to every accessible delivery point.
• All mail destined for North Carolina that cannot be delivered is being sent to local post offices office where it will be delivered when safe to do so.
• An estimated 35 routes are currently inoperable, down from 451 after the initial impact of the storm.
• USPS is currently evaluating alternative delivery arrangements for addresses along impassible delivery routes

• Replacement vehicles are being sent to local post offices that suffered vehicle damage, enabling them to resume delivery services as quickly as possible.

• The following chart outlines retail and delivery points across the three most impacted ZIP codes in North Carolina:

RETAIL AND DELIVERY OPERATIONS BY 3-DIGIT ZIP CODE
(AS OF 10/9/2024)

Resources For North Carolina Residents

• 13 mobile operations units have been or will be established across the following locations where residents can send/receive mail and packages.

• For impacted residents who have relocated due to the storm, be sure to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com.
• For impacted residents currently in a temporary shelter, USPS employees will be on site this week to assist with change of address requests to ensure mail and packages are sent to a designated address.  

Available Social Security checks that have arrived are being delivered to all units for delivery and/or available for customer pick up.

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