Post Office Lobby Re-Opens
Since losing power on Saturday, the Holmdel branch operated on a generator. Power was restored on Tuesday afternoon.
The lobby of the Holmdel post office was locked dark on Tuesday afternoon. A sign read, "Closed, No Power." USPS Postmaster Ted Moss answered questions from the side door.
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Even despite the trouble Irene caused when she blew through town, Holmdel's Postmaster said that his employees were able to deliver 99 percent of the town's mail.
"Everyone has been a real trooper," said USPS Postmaster Ted Moss.
The lights went out on Saturday night, and returned on Tuesday afternoon. In between, the workers are sorting mall with light powered by a small generator. When the important hydraulic that load the mail between trucks and loading dock was no longer operational, they borrowed a ramp and hauled it up themselves.
Postal carriers are dodging fallen tree limbs and taking detours to deliver the mail.
Processing "change of address" and "hold mail" requests were made more difficult because Internet servers were down.
On Tuesday afternoon, the lobby doors were closed. A sign said "Closed for Power." But customers who needed assistance -- like one who forgot his postal box key -- were quickly assisted by the Postmaster himself.
