GEORGIA, — As Georgia continues to recover from Hurricane Helene's devastating impact, the U.S. Postal Service is urging residents seeking updates on local Post Office operations to call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
The service has provided operators with specific details about delivery and retail services for each office affected by the storm, which has left 33 people dead and caused more than $400 million in economic damage statewide.
Gov. Brian Kemp addressed the storm’s toll at the State Capitol Thursday. He described the devastation stretching from Valdosta to Augusta as resembling a “230, 240-mile tornado.” He also outlined ongoing recovery efforts, which include restoring power to 270,000 customers still in the dark and delivering resources to the hardest-hit communities.
Resources for impacted residents
The USPS encourages customers whose mailboxes were damaged or destroyed to set up a secure temporary receptacle with their address clearly displayed to allow for continued delivery service. If a home is uninhabitable, the Postal Service advises residents to complete a Change of Address (COA) request to have their mail forwarded to a valid address.
A temporary COA is recommended for those planning to return to their residence within six months. Permanent COA requests are suggested for individuals not expecting to return. Change of Address cards can be obtained through a letter carrier, at any local Post Office, or submitted online at usps.com, accessible 24 hours a day.
Accessing up-to-date information
The USPS website’s Service Alerts page provides current updates on impacted mail services, restoration programs, and the latest news.
Despite extensive damage and infrastructure challenges, the Postal Service strives to maintain service to all customers in affected areas. The agency operates without taxpayer funding for daily expenses and relies on postage sales and service fees to support its operations.
The Biden administration has placed 41 Georgia counties under a federal disaster declaration following the storm, and Governor Kemp is working with the state’s bipartisan congressional delegation to have more added. Kemp has toured several affected areas since Helene swept through Florida’s Big Bend region and moved north, causing widespread damage and marking the highest hurricane-related death toll in Georgia since Katrina.