Postal employees could become Utah emergency workers

Salt Lake Tribune – 2/10/16 – U.S. Postal Service mail deliverers could be turned into special emergency workers under a bill working its way through the Utah Legislature.

SB57, which the Senate passed on an 28-0 vote Wednesday and sent to the House, would create a feasibility study on how to use postal workers’ close knowledge of people in communities during emergencies. Read more

In short the bill states:

 General Description:
9          This bill modifies the Public Safety Code regarding emergency assistance during a
10     declared disaster.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ?      authorizes the Division of Emergency Management to conduct a feasibility study
14     regarding establishing a contract with the United States Postal Service to help with
15     emergency response services during a declared disaster; and
16          ?     requires the Division of Emergency Management to report to the Business and
17     Labor Interim Committee by November 30, 2016, regarding the feasibility study. 

Additionally –

93          (3) The division shall conduct a feasibility study regarding the establishment of an
94     agreement with the United States Postal Service regarding the use of employees, resources, and
95     assets within the Postal Service Network to provide the following services:
96          (a) identify residential or commercial structures that have been damaged;
97          (b) identify persons who reside in a damaged area and the emergent medical or
98     physical needs of those persons;
99          (c) help assess the damage to neighborhoods or communities; and
100          (d) any other activity that the division determines to be necessary to assist in
101     responding to a declared disaster.
102          (4) The division shall provide a report to the Business and Labor Interim Committee
103     regarding the feasibility study conducted under Subsection (3) no later than November 30,
104     2016. 

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