November 2, 2001—In light of the recent threats to public health from anthrax sent through the mail, the US Postal Service (USPS) Web site contains several pages of information about anthrax, biological threats, and the postal facilities involved. Postmaster General Jack Potter asserts that the “800,000 Postal Service employees are using everything they’ve learned, doing everything humanly possible, to keep the mail safe and keep it moving.”
The USPS site contains a Fact Sheet with national and area updates concerning Postal Service facilities tested for anthrax, employees tested, letters confirmed to contain anthrax, and the current status of affected facilities. The site also includes what the USPS is doing to keep the mail safe for business and for the American people, and how they are protecting Postal Service employees. The “Mailroom Training Module from GSA: How to respond to anthrax threats in mailrooms” is also available.
The USPS site includes a poster to download concerning the up to $1 million reward that the USPS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently announced is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for mailing letters containing anthrax. In partnership with “America’s Most Wanted,” confidential telephone calls can be directed to the “America’s Most Wanted” phone bank at 800/CRIME TV.
A “Security of the Mail” poster is available for download (.pdf file) to help identify suspect letters and packages. The postcard that the Postal Service is sending out to every household in America, with tips to identify suspicious mail, is also available for download. The “United We Stand” stamp can be ordered from the Postal Service store.
