USPS facility in Kearny condemned after partial roof collapse injures ‘numerous employees’

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A U.S. Postal Service facility in Kearny has been condemned after the heavy rains from Hurricane Ida caused a partial roof collapse, injuring “numerous employees,” Mayor Al Santos said.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“It appears the heavy rains caused the partial collapse of the bulk mail postal facility’s roof, injuring numerous employees, none life threatening,” Santos told HCV this morning.

He noted that the Kearny Police and Fire Departments were on the scene, 1200 Harrison Ave., when a “secondary roof collapse” occurred, forcing all emergency personnel to be evacuated.

Additionally, fire and EMS from multiple municipalities responded, as did search and rescue teams.

Furthermore, the building owner must have an engineer or architect make an assessment and then determine whether to repair or demolish the structure, the mayor explained.

When HCV arrived at the scene around 10:30 a.m. this morning, the Kearny Fire Department and U.S. Postal Inspectors police officers were on the scene and the parking lot was closed.

Additionally, the condition of the roof was not visible from the ground.

Santos initially said the exact number of people injured when the roof collapsed was not available, but later noted in a town update that 300 employees were in the building at the time and seven were injured.

Hurricane Ida reportedly caused over seven inches of rainfall in Kearny, leading to many road closures last night.

USPS spokesman Xavier Hernandez did not provide any additional information, though thanked the first responders for their efforts and emphasized the imports of the workers safety.

“The cause and extent of damage to the roof at the Greater Newark Processing and Distribution Center is still under investigation. Our primary concern at this point is the safety and welfare of our employees,” he said in an email.

“We appreciate first responders’ quick response and we’re coordinating with officials at the scene to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from USPS spokesman Xavier Hernandez.


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11 COMMENTS

  1. Hello John, Obviously, the safety of human lives is top priority, but I am concerned–what’s happening with the mail and packages in the Kearny USPS distribution center? Any updates would be appreciated. Thank you and please take care.

      • I live in Southwest Florida where I have sent two packages one was sent out on September 10 for which my post master and the post master in Lake Katrine New York has both stated that my package is still laid because it’s sitting on the truck because they don’t know what to do with it. I have a tracking number and it comes up information unavailable and red ink. Where are my packages we can’t even track them any more. Hey

  2. Hope everyone is safe. Question what happens to the mail that was in the building at the time? I have a package I was awaiting that has been last scanned at the Newark distribution center. No movement since 9-1-21 7:30 pm. Tracking 9470111699000622700448
    Any update is appreciated. Thank you

  3. Hope all injured employees are recovering. I too have a package dropped off at 3 Bridges whose only scan was at 8:39 am, 9/1/21. It was a very valuable item. Have the packages at the facility at the time if the collapse been salvaged?

  4. Hi prayers for all that were injured and for those who are helping with the situation specially first responders Amen 🙏🏼 to them. I just want to be inform when it’s possible also for an order I placed on August 30 for some Ewing sneakers. Email is annierivas83@icloud.com thank you in advanced and please take care. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

  5. Hi I’m actually concerned about mail I mailed out a letter and a birthday card on September 1 and it still has not arrived in South Carolina I was told to do a roof collapse the mail may be in the building and they in able to get to it! does that mean I lose out on the gift card I sent in a birthday card card Or is there a chance that the mail that was in the building will go through at some point it is now 9/20/21

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