1. The Postal Service has adopted tough, new measures to protect the public and our employees, including new mail screening technology and protective gear for our employees.

The Postal Service is purchasing electron beam systems and services to sanitize mail. The equipment will be used in select areas to kill any biological agent, including anthrax, inside or outside mail items.

All postal facilities are switching from forced-air systems to remove dust from machines to either special filter-equipped vacuums or manual cleaning.

The Postal Service has purchased 4.8 million face masks for employees. The masks were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Postal Service has shipped the masks to 140 locations, starting on the East Coast. Employees are receiving guidance on how to properly wear the masks.

Based on a CDC recommendation, the Postal Service has purchased 90 million pairs of gloves for employees. The gloves are made of vinyl and Nitrile, a high-grade industrial plastic. The Postal Service is supplying 4-5 pairs per employee each day nationwide.

2. The Postal Service has a clear process for dealing with contamination.

The Postal Service has commissioned precautionary tests at 200+ postal facilities around the country to make sure they are not contaminated.

If the Postal Service finds contamination at any postal facility, we immediately eliminate that contamination and take any other appropriate steps, including closing an affected area.

Whenever any Postal Service employees might have been exposed to contamination, we do what medical experts tell us - we test them, provide them with precautionary medication, or both.

3. The Postal Service is educating the public, employees and businesses on how to handle the mail safely.

145 million postcards are being sent to all households throughout the country explaining how to safely handle suspicious mail. An image of the postcard is posted online at www.usps.com

POSTCARD HIGHLIGHTS:

Don't handle a letter or package that you suspect is contaminated

Don't shake it, bump it, or sniff it.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling any suspicious pieces of mail.

The Postal Service is making available upon request a free video and poster, "Biological Threat: Protecting Your Mailroom." The items can be requested at 1-800-STAMP24.

A 24-hour employee assistance hotline is available to all postal employees and their immediate family members: 1-800-EAP4YOU (1-800-327-4968).

4. The Postal Service is investigating to see that justice is done.

The Postal Service is offering a $1 MILLION REWARD for information leading to the capture of the terrorists who attacked the mail; provide tips by calling 800 CRIME-TV.

As of the morning of Oct. 26, postal inspectors had arrested 14 individuals for anthrax-related hoaxes and are continuing to investigate 13 additional hoax cases.