Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to prioritize the repair and reopening of two important post office locations in the Tampa Bay region. After sustaining damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, these facilities – located in Ruskin and Town N Country – were shuttered, leaving local residents and businesses facing significant disruptions.

“The prolonged shift in operations and lack of updates for reopening have resulted in general confusion and frustration, lengthier wait-times at the alternative locations, and accessibility issues for constituents who utilize and depend on essential postal services. It is with all of this information in mind that I strongly urge you to expedite the repair and reopening of the Ruskin and Town N Country post offices,” wrote Castor.

Castor emphasized the community’s dependence on accessible postal services and urged Postmaster DeJoy and USPS to improve communication and consider temporary solutions like mobile postal units.

Castor also requested detailed information regarding the extent of damages, restoration timelines and USPS’ strategy for disaster relief in impacted areas.

The full letter can be found here and below.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy

USPS Headquarters

475 L’Enfant Plaza SW

Washington DC 20260-0010

RE: Restoration of Tampa Bay Area U.S. Postal Service Operations following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy,

Thank you for your leadership and service to our nation.  On behalf of my neighbors across the Tampa Bay region, I respectfully request your assistance in restoring U.S. Postal Service operations following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton

As you may know, Florida experienced three hurricanes during the months of August through October 2024. The Tampa Bay community was severely impacted by the storms and suffered widespread damage and destruction. My team and I have spent the past few months assessing the damage and speaking with neighbors and business owners directly about the tragic loss of homes, livelihoods and property. I am grateful for the federal resources and personnel that were surged into our region immediately following the disasters as well as the passage of the American Relief Act at the conclusion of the 118th Congress. The $100 billion disaster package will deliver resources to help Tampa Bay neighbors get back on their feet and support the rebuilding of critical infrastructure across Tampa Bay. I am proud to have championed many of the disaster relief package’s provisions and am committed to further recovery needs in my community, for individuals, businesses and services alike.

It is my understanding that seven post offices across the region are currently closed as a result of damage sustained by these storms. I would like to specifically bring attention to two post offices in Florida’s 14th congressional district, which is the economic heart of Tampa Bay:

• Ruskin, 455 N. US Highway 41, 33570
• Town N Country, 7521 Paula Dr., Tampa, 33615

The latest USPS public announcement regarding business service disruptions was on November 4th, confirming that operations at the two locations listed above are temporarily suspended due to hurricane damage. The Ruskin post office has been closed since September 25, in anticipation and as a result of Hurricane Helene’s impacts. The Town N Country office has been closed since October 8, due to Hurricane Milton. While I appreciate the temporary operations at alternative locations, the needs of my neighbors and business owners who heavily rely on the Ruskin and Town N Country post offices are not sufficiently being met. The prolonged shift in operations and lack of updates for reopening have resulted in general confusion and frustration, lengthier wait-times at the alternative locations, and accessibility issues for constituents who utilize and depend on essential postal services. It is with all of this information in mind that I strongly urge you to expedite the repair and reopening of the Ruskin and Town N Country post offices.

Additionally, I would like to request additional information regarding the following:

• Please provide details on the damage sustained at the Ruskin and Town N Country post offices?
• What is the USPS approach to disaster relief, specifically for the restoration of impacted facilities?
• What is the latest status of restoration efforts at these two post offices?
• Do you have a timeline estimate for the reopening of each post office?
• How are you communicating to customers about these locations’ closures and temporary operation relocations?
• Do you have an estimate of how many customers these closures are impacting?
• How are you dealing with cases of individuals who hold a P.O. box at one of the closed locations?
• Have you considered utilizing Postal Mobile Retail Units at the Ruskin/Town N Country post office locations?

I respectfully request that you scrutinize the USPS operations of Tampa Bay post offices, specifically the Ruskin and Town N Country facilities, impacted by hurricanes in recent months. Thank you for your attention and timely response. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact my Legislative Assistant, Daniela Clark-Murrieta, at daniela.clark-murrieta@mail.house.gov or 202-225-3376.

Sincerely,

Kathy Castor