Message to Our APWU Family Affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton Devastation

October 9, 2024

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Many of our North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida members and their families, as well as the communities we serve, are reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helene to life and property, and are facing a long difficult road to recovery. 

The national APWU leadership have been in frequent touch with the APWU state presidents and other union representatives in the affected areas, working with United States Postal Service headquarters management and the AFL-CIO to help account for the safety of our members and dealing with management regarding the issues of administrative leave for all employees. We have also promoted the process for disaster relief for impacted postal employees through the Postal Employee Relief Fund (PERF) as well as the APWU disaster relief fund that is available to impacted members. Please visit www.postalrelief.com to learn more and apply.

With a long road of recovery ahead, our Florida APWU family is now facing the new catastrophic and life-threatening hurricane Milton that will make landfall sometime Wednesday evening and then move across the entire state over the following day or two.

The message below has been sent from APWU Florida State President Joe Paul to our APWU family:

“Please keep all our members and all postal workers across the entire State of Florida, along with their families, in your thoughts as hurricane Milton approaches. Virtually the entire state will be impacted to some degree, with coastal areas expected to bear the brunt of the storm. Let's stand together and keep everyone affected in our hearts during this challenging time.”

The APWU will continue to monitor the impact of these hurricanes on our members and their families and will share needed information regarding disaster relief for impacted employees"

Since its establishment in 1990, PERF has provided more than 3,000 grants totaling nearly $15 million to active and retired postal employees impacted by hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires and home fires. To learn more about eligibility for assistance or to obtain an application, please visit www.postalrelief.com, or write to:

Postal Employees Relief Fund, P.O. Box 41220, Fredericksburg, VA 22404-1220.

APWU members who need assistance with PERF should contact the union's Secretary-Treasurer Department.

Please note that inquiries regarding the status of your application or relief grant must be addressed directly to PERF.

If you have questions regarding PERF, please email perf@apwu.org

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