U.S. Postal Service Alert Now in Effect For Minnesota

Living here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, we're used to seeing warnings issued about the weather, health threats and enhanced campaigns to nab speeders or drunk drivers. But a new alert for Minnesota has just been issued by the U.S. Post Office.

We've all seen the famililar white trucks with red and blue eagle logo from the United States Postal Service traversing our neighborhoods, right? According to the USPS, their specific duties are:

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 163 million addresses six and often seven days a week.

Here in the North Star State, the USPS says it operates 1,029 separate post offices. Which is a fairly impressive amount, seeing as that means there are more post offices than the 853  incorporated cities in Minnesota.

SEE ALSO: Why Strange Stickers Could Be Appearing on Mailboxes Across Minnesota

The USPS also employs between 4,700 and 7,200 postal carriers to deliver all those letter, packages and other mail across Minnesota, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And now, the USPS has just issued an alert, given the winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings, icy condition and even blizzard warnings that have been issued across portions of Minnesota.

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Acording to a release, the USPS is asking for the public’s cooperation in keeping mailboxes, steps, and sidewalks clear of snow and ice, so letter carriers are able to provide the safest, most efficient delivery service possible. Specifically, the USPS is reminding Minnesotans to:

• Clear enough snow from curbside boxes to allow mail trucks to approach the box, deliver the mail and to drive away from the box without danger of the need for backing.
• Walkways should be cleared of snow and ice and allow enough traction to avoid slips, trips or falls.
• Steps should also be kept clear of ice and snow and in good repair so as not to cause injury to the letter carriers or others who visit the customer’s home.
• Overhangs should be clear and free of snow and ice to avoid injury.

The release also reminded Minnesotans who have roadside mailboxes to keep the approach and areas in front of the mailbox clear of snow or any other obstacles, like trash cans and other vehicles, noting that your carrier needs to get in, and then out, without leaving the vehicle or backing up.

I should point out that if, for some reason, your carrier cannot get to your box (like if it's blocked by a neighbor parking their vehicle too close to your mailbox, for instance) your mail likely will NOT be delivered that day. (Which is likely why these Minnesotans in the picture above put that 'no parking' sign on their mailbox post!)

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