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Updated: 7:53 PM Feb 8, 2011
Mail Carriers Work No Matter What the Weather
Winter weather usually makes people want to stay indoors, but there are some jobs that cannot be stopped, no matter what the weather.
Posted: 5:08 PM Feb 8, 2011Reporter: Hayley Harmon Email Address: hayley.harmon@wbko.com |
Photo: Jim Beatty
Snow covers mail delivery vehicles at the United States Post Office in Lawrenceville. |
Winter weather usually makes people want to stay indoors, but there are some jobs that cannot be stopped, no matter what the weather.
One of those jobs is mail service.
United States Postal Service mail carrier Stacy Wilson has been out for hours, delivering letter after letter.
"The initial getting out in it is the hard part," said Wilson.
On an average day, she delivers more than 1200 letters.
No matter what the weather, she never gets a day off.
"It doesn't matter if it's raining, snowing, ice. You're out in it. No matter what," said Wilson.
Her long day keeps her moving.
She delivers mail on foot to each and ever house.
"Usually on the street about 7 hours, or in my case 7 hours. I walk 14 miles a day. Everyday," said Wilson.
Wilson says delivering mail for hours at a time is hard enough, but when the streets are snowy and icy, it makes it ten times worse.
"Makes it a lot harder because you're not walking quite as fast because you're trying to be safe," said Wilson.
She admits she's taken a few spills on that ice in her eight years as a mail carrier.
"Falling is pretty much a given. It's whether or not I don't fall in a day. I'm always slipping," said Wilson.
Her already physically taxing job is compounded by the low temperatures and snowy conditions.
"This time of year with the weather and the heavy bag, it's hard to keep your balance," said Wilson.
"You gotta layer up and it adds extra weight to you so I'm worn out at the end of the day carrying around all the extra weight," said Wilson.
She says she used to be a clerk at the postal service, but despite it all, favors being a mail carrier.
Wilson adds that one way homeowners can make her job a little easier is to salt their porches and the sidewalks in front of their homes.

