Carriers work through snow with mail

In recent weeks, while most people in coastal Delaware were snowed in, staying warm and cozy in their own homes, United States Post Office employees were reporting for work.

“We are a federal agency. We are essential employees, so it’s not our call,” explained Tami Davidson, postmaster at the Bethany Beach post office. “We report to duty, and we wait for our district to make that decision. … This past one, they decided to get all the employees out by noon.”

With the amount of snow accumulation from back-to-back blizzards – exacerbated in many cases by that plowed from adjacent roads – some residents were unable to have their mail delivered to their home mailboxes. But, in those cases, the lack of delivery was generally because the area around the mailbox was not cleared properly, not because carriers weren’t trying to get the mail out.

“The carriers have to be able to pull up and pull away to service boxes. So we’ve advised our customers that, even if they can shovel out their box and we can get to them, they have to make a nice clearing,” Davidson explained. “Just so we can get the mail delivered, they have been getting out. So, our carriers have gone above and beyond to get out of the vehicle to make every possible delivery attempt, safely.”

Due to the area being classified as rural delivery, where carriers deliver by vehicle and not on foot, Davidson said that it’s USPS policy that a mailbox must be cleared out in a half-moon shape, allowing carriers to pull up and out, in order to deliver mail.

Safety has been a concern for postal workers, who are trained on how to handle inclement weather conditions. Although this was the biggest blizzard this area has seen in years, Davidson said it did not deter her staff.

“It’s something we’re going to remember for a long time. We’ve never experienced this. We just don’t get this type of snowfall down here. But we had our vehicles ready with chains. Everybody wore the proper footwear. And even though we trained for it, we actually got to get out there and do it,” said Davidson.
Road conditions made deliveries difficult, as well. Davidson said the biggest issue was that carriers’ vehicles would get stuck while trying to turn around. The delivery vehicles are heavily weighed down, due to all the freight, and do not have four-wheel drive. One got stuck so badly that the post office had to have the vehicle towed.

“It was a little tricky,” Davidson acknowledged. “A lot of roads were not plowed; there were a couple developments they just could not get into. To turn around, they were getting stuck – that’s been the biggest issue, getting stuck. … On an average, they get stuck three or four times. They get out, they’ve got to shovel, and they’ve got to put stuff down just so they can leave. They get stuck on a daily basis. They carry shovels in their vehicle and other things for traction.

For the one stuck USPS vehicle, Davidson said, “We had to get a tow truck out to South Bethany and get someone out when they were trying to turn around to service a road. So, instead of suspending delivery on that road, I just went out in my four-wheel drive, and I had to put it in four-wheel drive to turn around.”

If mail could not be delivered, residents who inquired were advised to fill out a form and put their mail on hold until delivery could be resumed.

“We’ve also put a lot of mail on hold so people can come in and pick it up if we are unable to get it to them, and so far we’ve had a good working relationship with the community,” noted Davidson. “If they don’t put it on hold, … we can’t just not take the mail out. So they pack it up every day. They take it hoping that, every day, on a day-to-day basis, maybe now they’re cleared out.”

Another complication from the storm for carriers and mail customers has been damaged mailboxes, which have in many cases either been struck or completely plowed down by plows. However, damaged or not, carriers will try to put mail in the boxes, Davidson said.

“We’ve seen some that have been severely damaged,” she acknowledged. “What was funny was, there was a big snow bank, and someone’s box was plowed down, and they actually stuck their box in the snow bank, but the carrier couldn’t reach it because it was too high!” she added with a laugh.

“If there’s a post erected, as long as it’s got a lid – some had a severe lean – they were still putting the mail in,” Davidson emphasized. “But if it’s on the ground – absolutely not – or if it was in a high snow bank, where we can’t reach it.”

Davidson said the weather has had residents joking about the postal service’s commitment to delivering mail in all types of weather, which she noted has happened quite frequently.

“A lot of jokes, ‘nor rain, nor sleet, nor snow,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, don’t forget flood!” Davidson said with a laugh. “The last nor’easter that came through, we had flooding conditions. So they had to roll up their pant legs, come to work with their shoes in their hands, and get to work in the flood. We would hand the mail off like a little convoy in the flood to get the mail out. So it’s been a challenging year with Mother Nature – can’t wait for spring!”

The Bethany Beach post office has seven employees and services more than 5,000 boxes. Davidson continuously acknowledged her staff’s hard work and dedication to the community.

“They really need to be commended, Davidson said. “All of the employees worked very hard, they really did. They had long hours. And to uphold our service and delivery commitment, the clerks did as well, with the high demand of people coming in to pick up mail. They did an excellent, excellent job.”