Astrodome gets own zip code for evacuees nationwide

02:25 PM CDT on Friday, September 2, 2005

Associated Press and Wendell Edwards / 11 News

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HOUSTON (AP) -- New Orleans mail has been diverted to Houston, and evacuees nationwide can restart mail service from the post office nearest where they are staying, the U.S. Postal Service said Friday.

People can resume their mail service by filling out a change-of-address form at a nearby post office, said Cliff Rucker, Houston district manager for the Postal Service.

"This is not just for evacuees in Houston. I want to emphasize that this is for evacuees nationwide," Rucker said.

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Evacuees throughout the nation can receive mail with the general delivery zip code at the Astrodome.

This will benefit the evacuees in receiving checks and those who need to order prescriptions by mail.

He said that mail is being held in trailers and vans in Houston, and the post office will distribute mail as it receives new information on addressees.

In addition, a general-delivery ZIP code -- 77230 -- has been set up for the more than 11,000 evacuees at the Astrodome.

Astrodome evacuees will get mail that has their name, a "general delivery" designation and the special ZIP code. Those staying in other shelters can have mail forwarded to the shelter, Rucker said.

Officials said they would prefer for recipients to have identification, and they are working on creating some form of ID for evacuees who don't have it.

Officials said evacuees can call 800-ASK-USPS (275-8777) for assistance.