USPS announces closures in storm areas

This story has been updated. 

The U.S. Postal Service closed offices along the East Coast because of Hurricane Sandy, according to the agency's website.

“USPS is prepared for a quick response before, during and after Hurricane Sandy and has procedures in place to expedite recovery efforts,” USPS said.

Service was disrupted at locations throughout the storm zone, including in the Baltimore district, the Connecticut district, the Greater Boston district, parts of New York and New Jersey, and in the Richmond, Va., district. USPS also announced delays in Pennsylvania because of the storm’s impact at the Philadelphia Mail Transport Equipment Service Center.

A USPS spokesman told Federal News Radio earlier that the postal service would be working “around the clock” to ensure deliveries on Monday, but would be prepared to suspend service in the event of mandatory local, state or federal evacuations.

"Depending on local conditions, some post offices may temporarily close their lobbies as Sandy makes landfall tomorrow. If roads become impassable or unsafe for travel during the storm, mail delivery services may be curtailed, and mail collection schedules from mail collection boxes could be suspended," the spokesman told FNR.

USPS also announced on Monday that the storm had disrupted FedEx transportation to 12 locations across the Eastern Seaboard.  The locations include Baltimore; Boston; Bradley, Conn.; Dulles, Va.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Lehigh Valley, Pa.; Philadelphia; Providence, R.I.; Newark, N.J.; New York; Stewart Airport, N.Y.; and Washington.