Ice Storm Slows Mail Delivery

Across eastern Oklahoma schools and businesses are closed, and events cancelled in the wake of the storm, but one job doesn't take snow days. News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin has more on dangerous

Tuesday, January 16th 2007, 8:25 pm

By: News On 6

Across eastern Oklahoma schools and businesses are closed, and events cancelled in the wake of the storm, but one job doesn't take snow days. News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin has more on dangerous deliveries.

It's still their motto; the mail must go through. Like police, fire, paramedics and more, postal carriers head outdoors to do their job while others stay safely inside.

"Well, I think the biggest I've faced so far is the ice on the steps,â€ said postal carrier David Tenpas. â€œMost of these sloping roofs, all the sleet we've had so far has come off on the steps and has made like a 45-degree slope."

A mail carrier for 15 years, David Tenpas has seen his share of wild weather, but this ice is enough to put the brakes on even the most determined delivery person.

"I'm wearing the ice gripper things that are doing the best they can in these conditions," Tenpas said.

Weather like this is even tougher on carriers with walking routes, confronted with icy streets and sidewalks, conditions like these can put the mail hours behind.

"A few houses I've had to miss because it's just impossible to get up on the porches," said Tenpas.

But if he misses your house, he says it's not for lack of trying.

"I've fallen three times and I just fell once on the next street over, my leg actually went down between the handrail and kind of pinched me, but I'll survive. It's better than a dog bite," Tenpas said.

While Tenpas wasn't seriously hurt carrier injuries are no laughing matter. Postal officials say they take the safety of the employees very seriously.

"It would really help us if people would clear out their driveways, their walks and their steps particularly and porches so that our carriers have safe passage up to their house," said Beth Fisk with the U.S. Postal Service.

Tenpas says he has one goal in mind.

"To get as much of the route done if not all of it done, go home, make some hot chocolate and turn on channel six," Tenpas said.

Tenpas says the one thing he would like everyone to know is that the carriers are trying. They're just asking folks to please be patient and expect some delays.